Dentonites gathered at South Lakes Park on Thursday night under Pavilion 1 to recognize the existence of Nex Benedict, a straight-A scholar from Owasso, Oklahoma, who enjoyed Minecraft and was a fan of animals.
Benedict was a 16-year-old freshman who identified as transgender and female nonbinary under the Two Spirit, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming. In a girls ‘bathroom at Owasso High School, Benedict was attacked and beaten on February 8 when he was killed by classmates. Governor of Oklahoma will be in office in 2022. A bill that requires pupils at public colleges and open charter schools to use locker rooms and facilities that match the sex on their birth certificates was signed into law by Kevin Stitt.
Oklahoma politicians have drafted more than 50 anti-transgender payments for their present treatment in contrast to the most recent Texas legislative session, which introduced dozens of bills restricting the rights of LGBTQ people. The standard autopsy report, which would ascertain the teenager’s cause of death, has not yet been made public.
Regional businesses OUTreach Denton and PRIDENTON joined forces to plan and conduct the ceremony on Thursday night. The two agencies stated in a joint declaration that trans, non-binary, and gender-expanded children deserve to be accepted and embraced as they remember Nex. Everyone who is trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive deserves encouragement, respect, and dignity. We urge allies of trans, non-binary, and gender-inclusive people to voice their opposition to stigmatization and bullying when it appears in their own relationships and in their own congressional actions. The trans community cannot be the only source of trans people’s protection; we had all assume this role.
Luka and the University of North Texas ‘Native American Student Association (NASA) recognized land as the site of the vigil. He claimed that “land acknowledgements do not exist in the past tense or in a historic context. Colonialism is a current and ongoing method, and we need to practice awareness of our current involvement. Additionally, it is important to note that acknowledging the property is customary. He continued, noting that the property on which the Caddo Nation’s collecting was taking place is occupied by the Wichita and its associated tribes.
During the ceremony, rocks and flowers were displayed as memorials.
Pebbles and plants were displayed on a stand for ceremony guests to bring home. In some customs, stones were provided at memorials for attendees to get one and stay in their pockets, according to James Jackson, committee member for PRIDENTON. He said they planned to leave the rock at the grave the next time they went, “and they would carry it around as long as it was necessary as a token of the individual they’ve lost.”
Dr. Enedelia Sauceda, a panel member of PRIDE DENTON, gave a wiring time through spoken word. People experience pain differently, so they “started.” If you find yourself feeling disconnected, overburdened, or in a storm of thoughts during yesterday’s plan, I urge you to give yourself a grounding time. She urged people to take notice of their thoughts and feelings and respect them. She said, “Be sweet, be tender, and be loving with yourself.”
After the ceremony, Leigh from NASA shared Benedict’s history and provided sweetgrass shading, a Native American tradition for spirit cleansing and attracting good power, for anyone who was interested. “Nex’s life is more than how he died,” he said. In reports about Nex, his companions at the ceremony said they remember him as a man you immediately believe you’ve known for years.
On Thursday evening, a group gathered in Denton to respect the life of Nex Benedict.“Nex’s death has affected me in every way and in every aspect of my life,” Jackson told the Observer. The idea of Nex becoming a symbol doesn’t appeal to Jackson. It’s degrading and feels like we’re erasing pieces of him so that he can indicate one item and make a point.
“Jackson said,” Nex’s school, state, and country failed him in every way. I feel bad for him as well. When I first started to feel like I was living the same way at the age of 16, this young gentleman was thus absolutely himself. I should have campaigned more, put more pressure on my staff, and participated in more demonstrations. However, that kind of thinking won’t help Nex and it won’t help me either.
In Texas and Oklahoma’s new legislative sessions, there have been heated debates over transgender right.
Transgender and non-binary pleasure flags are displayed at ceremony attendees.
A Denton ceremony visitor shows appreciation during Thursday evening’s ceremony.
