Tuesday Top of Mind for 3/5/24 has been simmering at the top of my mind since I learned of their death. They died one day after a beatdown by three classmates in the bathroom. In which they lost consciousness due to their head being beaten on the floor.

No ambulances were despite that.

They were being made fun of by the three girls and they flicked water at them.

For that, they were beaten to unconsciousness, and not given timely care at the hospital.

Instead, the school called their grandmother, who took them to the hospital. They spoke to police officers who told them that they started the fight with the water.

Flicking water to a beat down. Doesn’t seem fair, does it.

After giving their statement at the hospital and being released into the care of their grandmother, they collapsed and died the next day.

Preliminary autopsy reports stated that they did not die of trauma. It took pressure from trans activist groups and allies to get the U.S. Department of Education to open an investigation into their death. If the school responded appropriately in this matter. There have been student walkouts regarding Nex’s death and the widespread bullying the students say goes unanswered and uninvestigated. Even University of Oklahoma students staged a walkout.

The state superintendent denies. He goes as far as to say that transgender and nonbinary people do not exist.

Well, I know some transgender and nonbinary people and they are not unicorns or dragons. They are people.

I want to write directly to those who think this beat down was justified, and Nex deserved whatever they got and ask of those who think this who hurt you? Why do you care that this is the way they lived their life? Does it impact you personally when someone identifies as that with which you don’t agree?

I can’t understand it for you.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, 35.1% of transgender youth live in a state that would spit on them if they were on fire. Okay, I added that last part. However, 35.1% of transgender youth live in a state that is actively trying to ban them. Think why that is.

Is it because they dare to be different? That’s another good question.

Some states are going so far as to ban gender-affirming care until the age of TWENTY-SIX! You know, adults. If this doesn’t make you mad, I can’t explain it to you.

Did I know Nex Benedict? No. But I know others like them. The ones you want to shit upon for being different. The ones who are afraid today of what tomorrow will bring. Afraid to be themselves. May you never know that kind of fear.

I have some questions for you. Again, what does it matter to you? Could it be that the banning of all transgender and gender-affirming care led to this? The horrible rhetoric of the current State Superintendant of Schools Ryan Walters? The emboldening of people, like the girls who were involved in the altercation and were the ones who physically assaulted Nex? Could it be? Why do you care so much?

Please reflect upon that.