A coalition of over 350 LGBTQ, civil rights groups, and prominent public figures has issued a call for action following the tragic death of Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old gender-nonconforming student from Owasso, Oklahoma. An open letter addressed to the Oklahoma State Legislature calls for removing State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and investigating the Oklahoma Department of Education’s policies and practices.
Walters has come under fire for his remarks about the LGBTQ+ community and the appointment of Libs of TikTok founder Chaya Raichik to the Oklahoma Library Board.
“Superintendent Ryan Walters is responsible for fostering a culture of violence and hate against the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Oklahoma schools,” the letter said.
“Just a month ago, he passed an emergency rule to prevent an Oklahoma teen who was fearful of being bullied from changing his gender on school files. He called for the firing of a principal who performed in drag on weekends, which led to violent threats against the educator.”
The letter is a response to what the signatories describe as a failure by Walters and the Department of Education to protect LGBTQ+ students, stating: “Superintendent Ryan Walters is responsible for fostering a culture of violence and hate against the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Oklahoma schools.”
The letter’s signatories include various organizations and individuals, from civil advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign and National LGBTQ Task Force, faith organizations, national education and youth advocacy groups.
The letter was also signed by LGBTQ+ and ally celebrities, including Kristin Chenoweth, Demi Lovato, Cynthia Nixon and Jonathan Van Ness.
Nicole McAfee, the Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, pointed out how close Benedict’s death was with the Oklahoma Department of Education’s passage of rules that restrict diversity and inclusion efforts while promoting Judeo-Christian values as the foundation of the state’s education system.
“It’s yet another example that not only is Walters out of touch with the needs of Oklahoma students, teachers, and families, but he is willing to continue his work to make public schools in Oklahoma hostile for 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC students, no matter the cost,” said McAfee.
“All Oklahoma students deserve the safety to show up and learn as their full selves, and that is not possible so long as Ryan Walters is allowed to remain in his position.”
Additionally, McAfee called for a full investigation into the State Department of Education and an end to Walters’ position overseeing the department.
GLSEN‘s executive director, Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, highlighted the dangerous consequences of anti-trans hatred.
“Nex’s life was taken due to anti-trans hatred peddled by State Superintendent Ryan Walters, Chaya Raichik (Libs of TikTok) and extremist state legislators,” Willingham-Jaggers said in a statement included in the letter’s press release.
“These adults must be held accountable for their actions and words. Hate speech, especially when enshrined into law as demonstrated by Oklahoma’s transphobic bathroom ban, not only brainwashes children to commit atrocious acts of violence but also desensitizes the adults in their environment, fostering a culture of callousness and disregard for human life.”
As News is Out has reported before, in the days following Benedict’s death, the crisis hotline Rainbow Youth Project reported a dramatic surge in mental health crisis contacts from LGBTQ youth across America and at least 340 calls from youth in Oklahoma.
To read the letter in its entity and see the full list of signatories, visit HRC. To add your name to the letter, click here.