DiversifyIT Calendar

April 2024 DiversifyIT *VIRTUAL* Brown Bag Lunch
Date and time: April 24, 12-1pm
Topic: The Death of Nex Benedict, the Circumstances Surrounding Their Death, the State Laws in Oklahoma Targeting Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming People and the Societal Backlash to Gender Expression & Freedom
Facilitator: Cole Archer
Zoom link: https://duke.zoom.us/j/98273478604?pwd=RnVjZUxPYzh1VHN0Y1dJRlp5RXNZdz09 (additional details below)

 

Overview of Discussion:

This discussion has arisen because of a recent event in which a non-binary 16 year old high school student, Nex Benedict, died the day after an assault in a high school bathroom. The autopsy report says that the cause of death was suicide from a combination of antidepressant and antihistamine, however, Nex’s family has hired a lawyer and disputes the conclusion that Nex committed suicide. New information may still be coming out.

In 2022, the Governor of Oklahoma passed a bill that requires everyone in the state to only use public restrooms that align with a person’s sex at birth. Bills like this completely discount non-binary and trans people and ignore the fact that gender is fluid and can change over someone’s lifetime. Laws like this have also made Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming People more fearful of attacks in public restrooms because people have taken it upon themselves to enforce this law.

In general, there has been a recent shift in our society and in American culture that has brought people out of the closet and created an environment for more gender expression and gender identity freedom. More and more people are coming out as Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming because there is more acceptance. Because of this kind of gender revolution and freedom of gender expression, there has been a backlash especially in some of the more conservative states like Oklahoma. This backlash can be seen in anti-trans laws in many states in the country and verbal and physical attacks against Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming People. Kids are being bullied, people are being attacked and certain people, some in positions of power, are creating legislation that gender is binary and unchanging. How do we stop this backlash and teach people that gender is fluid and to love and accept people who are different instead of resorting to hate and violence?

Details of the Nex Benedict assault/altercation:

Nex said in the interview that three girls had beaten them after Nex had poured water on the girls for laughing at them and their friends. Nex said the girls had previously mocked Nex and their friends “because of the way that we dress.”

“Then all three of them came at me,” Nex added. At one point, Nex hit their head on the bathroom floor, according to Sue Benedict, their grandmother and guardian.

Nex went to the hospital and came home that day. The next day, Nex collapsed at home and was rushed back to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead, Ms. Benedict said.

……the Benedict family said in a statement that a full version of the autopsy report, had also noted other injuries, including a broken blood vessel in the eye and various bruises, cuts and abrasions to the head, face, torso and limbs, which they said “contradict allegations of the assault on Nex being insignificant.”

- https://www.nytimes.com/article/nex-benedict-oklahoma.html

Oklahoma Laws:

• In 2022 Oklahoma GOP Governor Kevin Stitt signed a law requiring everyone to use public restrooms that align with their birth sex“Advocates for nonbinary and transgender students said that the state’s policy on gender and bathrooms had led to more reports of confrontations in schools.”

  “That policy and the messaging around it has led to a lot more policing of bathrooms by students,” said Nicole McAfee, the executive director of Freedom Oklahoma, which advocates for transgender and gay rights. Students who do not present themselves as obviously male or female find themselves questioned by other students, they said. “There is a sense of, ‘do you belong in here?’”

  - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/us/oklahoma-transgender-law-teen-dead.html

• There are many anti-trans laws currently being watched in Oklahomahttps://translegislation.com/bills/2024/OK

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What to expect:

DiversifyIT Brown Bag Lunches are a chance for members of the community to have casual conversations and be in community with colleagues. You are welcome to come, enjoy your lunch, have your camera on or off, and chat, speak, or just listen. We also have a new Brown Bag lunch Teams channel that has some additional FAQs.

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