I am beyond angry -- and not at all surprised -- that a hateful "thou shalt not use the bathroom you are comfortable in; thou musteth useth the bathroom whither thy oppressors defecate" law would provide ample opportunity, and location, for beatings. Having suffered bullying myself, all those years ago, I know that the bullies ALWAYS get away with it, that charges are NEVER filed, and that they do not suffer any school-related consequences.
Far more often, it is the person getting beaten who gets suspended for having the audacity to breathe while being different.
And, so it is that Nex Benedict was forced to use a bathroom in school that wasn't safe for them. And so it was that Nex Benedict got the shit knocked out of them. And so it was that Nex Benedict was suspended from school for two weeks. And so it was that Nex Benedict's school did not call an ambulance or the police when Nex Benedict was beaten. And so it was that Nex Benedict died the next day.
The police, now, say that, once they know what is what, all charging options are on the table.
My bet is that Nex Benedict's parents and grandparents will be charged with child abuse for allowing their beautiful nonbinary child to exist in the world outside of the gender assignments that the State of Oklahoma thinks children should live by.
But maybe -- just maybe -- someone will realize that the "it's about protecting our children" screed is bullshit, right up there with "pro-life", and, "Christian".
After all, who really thinks that Jesus would beat a child nigh unto death for using the bathroom the State demanded they should use?
www.independent.co.uk/...