"‘Bullied at School’... Nationwide Outcry in US Over Death of LGBTQ High School Student"

Fight in School Bathroom, Found Collapsed the Next Day

Last month, there was an allegation that an LGBTQ high school student in the United States was bullied at school and took their own life. This has sparked a growing controversy over LGBTQ rights in the U.S.

High school LGBTQ student Nex Benedict who passed away last month in the US
[Photo by AP, Oklahoma/Yonhap News]

On the 13th (local time), the Associated Press reported that the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office concluded the cause of death of Nex Benedict (16) from Owasso High School, who died on the 8th of last month, was due to a drug overdose. Benedict was known as non-binary (a person who defines their gender identity beyond the binary classification of female and male).

The day before Benedict's death, it was reported that they had a fight in the school bathroom with three older female students, which led to police intervention. Benedict told the police that the students who attacked them had been bullying them and their friends regularly because of their unusual clothing, and on that day, they were teased in the bathroom with comments like "Why are you laughing like that?"

Afterward, Benedict splashed water on the students who were teasing them, and then they claimed that the students all rushed at them and attacked. When the police asked if Benedict had informed the school about the bullying, Benedict reportedly replied, "I don't really know what good that would do." Benedict received treatment at a hospital after the altercation and was discharged, but was found collapsed at home the next day. They were taken back to the hospital but died in the emergency room.

Nick Boatman, chief of the Owasso Police Department, stated that "from the early stages of the investigation, several indications suggested this death was due to suicide." He did not disclose whether a suicide note was found at the scene.

"Even if the school was informed, no help was received"

Nex Benedict Memorial Rally Held in Tulsa
Photo by AP, Tulsa/Yonhap News

Following the news of Benedict's death, memorial gatherings continued across Oklahoma. Some criticized the school for neglecting bullying against LGBTQ students.

U.S. NBC News reported on the 26th of last month (local time) that about 40 students from Benedict's high school protested against the pervasive bullying culture on campus. They pointed out that most students who are bullied, including LGBTQ students, receive no help even when they inform the school.

Human rights organizations in the U.S., as well as the governor of Oklahoma, have also paid attention to this issue. Brandon Dilawari, manager of the U.S. LGBTQ youth rights organization 'Rainbow Youth Project,' emphasized to AP, "This incident is not just an isolated case."

Meanwhile, multiple surveys conducted in the U.S. over recent years have shown that Generation Z has a higher rate of LGBTQ identification compared to other generations in the country. The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), a U.S. survey organization, released a report in January this year stating that "28% of Generation Z identify as LGBTQ." This was based on a survey conducted from August last year for about a month, targeting 6,616 Americans aged 13 to 65.

LGBTQ is an acronym that includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and the 28% figure represents the combined responses of those identifying as such. The remaining 72% responded that they identify as heterosexual.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.