Honoring Nex + Supporting 2SLGBTQQIA+ Youth as Violence + Abuse Prevention

Content note: this letter contains information about violence against 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth. Free, confidential help is available via The Trevor Project and The LGBT National Help Center.

This past week, Oregon SATF staff joined with people from across the nation in collective grief over the senseless death of Nex Benedict (they/them, he/him), a 16-year-old, 2STGNC+ , indigenous student from Oklahoma. 

Celebrating Nex’s Memory

In moments where media often focuses on the violence that trans and nonbinary folx endure, we believe it is important to also celebrate the person that Nex was, not just what happened to them.

Through multiple media interviews, Nex’s parents, friends, and classmates described how Nex loved animals, including their cat, Zeus. That Nex loved reading, drawing, and playing Minecraft. That they were a straight-A student. Their love of nature, and watching The Walking Dead. Friends described them as “fiery”, and a talented artist that could spend a half hour creating artwork that would turn out to be a “masterpiece”.

Nex’s friend and classmate, Ally, described Nex at a vigil held in their honor as “It was one of those things where you meet them and you automatically feel like you’ve known them for years kind of thing. They were such an adventurous little thing. It was never really a dull moment with them.”

Supporting Youth is Violence + Abuse Prevention

Amongst all the beautiful and complex components that made up Nex as an individual, they were also bullied for their gender identity at school. Attacked and beaten by fellow students in the school bathroom on February 7th, Nex died the next day. Nex was a child that deserved to be alive today. 

Sexual violence, abuse, and bullying disproportionately affects marginalized communities, including indigenous, queer, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth. These youth often face heightened risks of experiencing sexual violence and abuse due to factors such as discrimination, stigma, and lack of access to supportive resources. 

Therefore, it is imperative that our prevention and response efforts are intentional, intersectional, and inclusive, actively addressing the unique needs and vulnerabilities of all individuals, and specifically addressing safety in the context of sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or expression

By supporting queer and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth and creating safe and affirming spaces for them to thrive, we are not only fostering resilience and empowerment within these communities, but also contributing to primary prevention strategies for sexual violence and abuse. Research consistently demonstrates that promoting equity, inclusion, and social connectedness are key protective factors against sexual violence, child abuse, and bullying. When we invest in the well-being and rights of queer and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth, we are simultaneously advancing our collective efforts to prevent sexual violence and abuse before it occurs.

As we continue our work to create a state free from sexual violence and abuse, we are committed to centering the voices and experiences of queer and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth in our prevention efforts. Through collaborative partnerships, advocacy, and community engagement, we aim to create a just and equitable society where all individuals can live and thrive as their most authentic selves.

Here are some tangible steps that individuals, communities, and organizations can take to make a meaningful difference:

Deepen Your Understanding of the Ongoing, Societal Factors that Contributed to Nex’s Death: a recent letter published by Pride Foundation, titled "Honoring Nex Benedict," profoundly resonated with our organization's values and goals. In the letter, Pride Foundation beautifully articulates the importance of supporting queer and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth, how oppression and legislation create environments where our children can experience violence in educational settings, and some of the challenges Nex faced as a young person navigating their identity.

Support Gender-expansive and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Indigenous and Native Youth:

• Healthy Native Youth has a comprehensive resource page (including culturally-relevant health resources to support diverse youth and relatives, such as toolkits, lesson plans, and information about healthcare resources). 

• WeRNative’s “Ask Your Relative” section of the website provides culturally-specific responses to youth’s questions about all types of questions, including sexual and gender identity, sexual health, and more.

• Additionally, GLSEN has developed a collection of resources (including research, lesson plans, and more) to help communities support indigenous youth that identify as part of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

Adopt Strategies to Support Gender Expansive Youth: 

• Work with K-12 youth in Oregon? Check out the Oregon Department of Education’s “Supporting Gender Expansive Students: Guidance for Schools” resource, released in 2023, and the wealth of other resources supporting the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan from ODE.

• Check out “LGBTQ2SIA+ Inclusion Prevents Violence and Abuse”, from Oregon SATF’s 2023 “Growing Prevention Community Chats” series, featuring Angie Foster-Lawson, ODE's LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Coordinator. Short video | Longer video (includes examples around Oregon).

• For broader guidance, check out “Supporting and Caring for Our Gender Expansive Youth: Lessons from the Human Rights Campaign’s Youth Survey” from Gender Spectrum and the Human Rights Campaign. - Additionally, PFLAG offers a “Supporting Trans & Nonbinary Loved Ones: What Would You Do?” Recording & Training Toolkit.

Support Black Gender-Expansive Youth: Check out “A Resource for Black Families, Family Members, and Caregivers of Black, Transgender, Non-binary and LGB Youth” from HRC.

Learn How You can Support Youth and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Survivors: Check out one of Oregon SATF’s newest guides for supporting youth, the Mandatory Reporting + Confidential Advocacy Partnership Guide, and/or the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence’s online library. This collection contains resources for improving services for 2SLGBTQQIA+ survivors. Included in this library are resources for advocates, organizations, community members, and policymakers.

Learn more about the root causes of violence, including homophobia and discrimination/hate based on gender identity: As an individual or with your agency, check out Oregon SATF’s “Addressing Root Causes” online course. 

No student deserves to experience violence, and prevention is possible. Thank you for helping to create a state where our young people can be celebrated for the full breadth and complexity of who they are, authentically and safely.

Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force | taskforce@oregonsatf.org