Oklahoma students walk out after trans student’s death to protest bullying policies
After the death of Nex Benedict, classmates at Owasso High School say bullying often goes unpunished, causing students to feel like there’s no point asking for help.
This whole thing has me really fired up. I grew up in Oklahoma. My wife went to that high school. We can't say we're surprised what with all the politics going on there, but I wish there was more we could do than donate and vote. It doesn't feel like enough.
If you’re cis, speak up. I know it doesn’t sound like a lot but a lot of transphobia perpetuates by claiming all cis people feel that way. People are more likely to listen to peers about how fucked up this whole situation is including adults condoning a child’s death
Then be a pain in their ass. Put a banner up ready for students to see on their way to school. Put the school administrators on fucking blast. Talk to the media and share the reasons why you ain't surprised. Be the thorn they wish they could unstick from their side.
Voting is the most effective way for the general populace to make a difference. Unfortunately with the way we segregate representation, it's very difficult to have any kind of effect on places you don't exist in.
The next best thing is speaking up. Taking with people, socializing and standing up for what you believe in. Engage with people, and empathize with them. Even the people who spout hate and fear. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, they're only spewing that vitriol because they've never known anything else. Showing them something different in a way that isn't combative or competitive won't necessarily change their minds right away... but it's going to do a hell of a lot more than shouting in their face that they're wrong.
Most of all... understand that change is hard. And people will suffer because of it. And honestly... there's not much you can do about that. It will hurt. A lot. But the worst thing you can do is let it embitter you. Because it's as good as giving up.
Way to misgender (non-binary) Nex the entire article.
Jesus fuck things are bleak
This is the best summary I could come up with:
In body camera footage from a police officer’s interview with Nex, he described how three students “jumped” him after he threw water on them because they were bullying him and his friend over the way that they dressed.
“Our district safety and security team continues to work closely with law enforcement to help ensure everyone’s safety.” The letter added that experienced counselors were on hand to speak with students.
The walkout is not political, said Kane, a nonbinary student who went to Owasso High School for 10th and 11th grade and now takes online classes for his senior year.
Kane said he has gone back and forth between in-person school and online classes since eighth grade in part due to bullying over his sexuality more than his gender identity.
As he made comments about AIDS and how Jesus Christ was the “real man” lesbians need, students holding signs stating “trans youth belong” surrounded him to block him from sight.
If you are an LGBTQ young person in crisis, feeling suicidal or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now at 1-866-488-7386 or the Rainbow Youth Project at 1-317-643-4888.
The original article contains 1,218 words, the summary contains 194 words. Saved 84%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
This TL;DR is really bad. The 5th paragraph that starts with "As he made comments..." is referring to a COUNTER PROTESTOR, not Kane who was mentioned in the previous paragraph.
This is a good example to always read the article and not just the TL;DR bot summary!
