School district investigated after Nex Benedict's death
Newsy
The Human Rights Campaign said the 2SLGBTQI+ community is still awaiting answers following the nonbinary student's death.
The U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into Owasso Public Schools in Oklahoma after the death of 16-year-old high school student Nex Benedict.
In a letter from the DOE to Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, the department said it opened an investigation into the alleged failed response to sex-based harassment by Owasso Public Schools.
The response came after HRC drafted a formal complaint against the school. HRC said Robinson wrote a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging that the department help prevent other situations like this from happening again.
“Nex’s family, community, and the broader 2SLGBTQI+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex+) community in Oklahoma are still awaiting answers following their tragic loss," Robinson said. "We appreciate the Department of Education responding to our complaint and opening an investigation — we need them to act urgently so there can be justice for Nex, and so that all students at Owasso High School and every school in Oklahoma can be safe from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.”
Owasso Public Schools responded to the investigation in a statement to Scripps News Tulsa.
