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During a public forum in Tahlequah, a State Senator referred to the 2SLGBTQ+ community as that filth while answering a question on connections between recent legislation and a nonbinary students death in Owasso, saying his constituents dont want that in the state of Oklahoma, as recorded by the Tahlequah Daily Press.
According to the Tahlequah Daily Press, Cathy Cott asked the panel consisting of Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens, R-Tahlequah, Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, and Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee about the dozens of anti-2SLGBTQ+ bills making their way through the current legislative session.
A 16-year-old died after being beaten in Owasso High School, what do you think of that? Cott said. They were targeted because of some of these bills and some of the things Ryan Walters has said.
Cott is referring to 16-year-old Nex Benedict, a nonbinary student who died one day after a physical altercation in a bathroom at Owasso High School.
Benedicts cause of death has not yet been determined. Owasso Police say preliminary autopsy reports indicate Benedicts death was not a result of trauma. A search warrant indicated investigators suspect foul play involved.
After two other lawmakers respond, Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, begins his reply.
My heart goes out to that scenario, if that is the case, said Woods. Were a Republican state supermajority in the House and Senate. I represent a constituency that doesnt want that filth in Oklahoma.
Some audience members clap as others question his use of the word filth.
A national crisis hotline for 2SLGBTQ+ youth says calls have more than tripled following the news of Nex Benedicts death.
If you look back to when our crisis hotline began in April of 2022, for about 6 months there, the number one reason for a crisis outreach call was parental rejection, being forced out, scared about coming out, said Lance Preston, Founder and Executive Director of Rainbow Youth Project USA. Now, our number one reason is my government hates me, my school doesnt want me, they dont want me to use the bathroom, they dont want me to read a book. So its really shifted and thats sad, but that is also across the country.
Many 2SLGBTQ+ rights organizations and community leaders have spoken out, citing the states legislation and government leaders rhetoric as leading causes to the circumstances surrounding Benedicts death.
We want to be clear, whether Nex died as a direct result of injuries sustained in the brutal hate-motivated attack at school or not, Nexs death is a result of being the target of physical and emotional harm because of who Nex was, said Freedom Oklahoma. This harm is absolutely related to the rhetoric and policies that are commonplace at the Oklahoma Legislature, the State Department of Education, and the Governors office, with regard to dehumanizing 2STGNC+ people.
According to Oklahoma Watch, 40 anti-LGBTQ+ have been filed for the current legislative session, including a bill that would bar state agencies from showing support for Oklahomas LGBTQ+ community.
While the details about the tragic death of Nex Benedict are still being sorted out, one thing is clear: Oklahoma officials failed this teenager. Backed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has launched a crusade to force fundamentalist Christianity into the public schools, with a cruel focus on trans youth. Oklahoma legislators have compounded the harm by passing laws undermining LGBTQ+ rights, said Americans United. We hope that Walters, Stitt and other Oklahoma officials learn from this horrific tragedy and pull back on their crusade to devalue LGBTQ+ people and destroy separation of church and state. All decent people must hold these state officials accountable for the consequences of their rhetoric and actions. The memory of Nex Benedict demands nothing less.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has compiled a list of resources for those in need.
In response to the death of Nex Benedict, a non-binary/two-spirit student in Owasso, Oklahoma, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has compiled resources related to mental health and youth crisis services, tools for youth-serving providers, and resources to preventing school-based bullying and violence. HHS stands in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community and reaffirms its commitment to addressing discrimination, bullying, and violence in all its forms."
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Don't you agree, Zach? https://streamable.com/enq4r7