Nex Benedict died one day after a fight in a school bathroom. Their mother Sue Benedict tells Bevan Hurley that the gender fluid teenager endured more than a year of abuse simply for being who they were
Then we agree that children shouldn’t have to fight these battles. Unfortunately, the “adults” in Oklahoma and many other states are either failing them or actively participating in their persecution.
I assume you’re a grown-ass person like me. It is my job and your job to make this a safer world for people like Nex. Until then, they are indeed fending for themselves. I vote for the least-bad candidates, contact my representatives frequently, and give to charities who help queer people; admittedly I need to do more. The relevant question isn’t what Nex should have done; they died for being. The question is what can you do such that people like Nex don’t have to fight hate groups alone?
Sure. But fighting is not a safe, one-sided activity. Sometimes you punch a fascist and sometimes the fascist punches back.
While it’s all brave and great, I still feel not absolutely great about the idea of having children fight these battles.
Then we agree that children shouldn’t have to fight these battles. Unfortunately, the “adults” in Oklahoma and many other states are either failing them or actively participating in their persecution.
I assume you’re a grown-ass person like me. It is my job and your job to make this a safer world for people like Nex. Until then, they are indeed fending for themselves. I vote for the least-bad candidates, contact my representatives frequently, and give to charities who help queer people; admittedly I need to do more. The relevant question isn’t what Nex should have done; they died for being. The question is what can you do such that people like Nex don’t have to fight hate groups alone?