Nex Benedict died one day after a fight in a school bathroom. Their mother Sue Benedict tells Bevan Hurley that the gender fluid teenager endured more than a year of abuse simply for being who they were
My biggest fear is to outlive my daughter. And since she’s queer (not trans, but queer), I worry about her being assaulted or even killed because of it, especially as people like Trump foster bigotry. Also, one of her closest friends is trans and I’m very worried about him. I know he’s being bullied in school and he already has self-harm issues. Thankfully, his parents support his transition, but he’s still not getting the support he needs and the school makes him use the girls bathroom and locker room. I hope he makes it through school okay. He’s only 12 and he’s already cutting himself, vaping and smoking weed.
I hope he finds the strength to get through this. Besides support from his family and having supportive friends, which no one should take for granted, there’s overcoming the bullying and finally, the hardest of all, the inner conflict. Topple this with puberty’s own ordeal, so everything gets even more confusing. But it’s also the one task, that drops the most loot, if you solve it. There’s nothing more rewarding than feeling inner peace, love yourself and coming of age strong and prosperous.
I do too. So much. I wish I could do something to help him, but I’ve only met him one time. I know the school he’s in is utter shit. We pulled my daughter out and put her in online school because of how much she was bullied. The administration actually made her apologize to her bullies after they doxxed her on Discord and prank called her repeatedly. Fuck that school. If I could get her friend to do online school with her, I’d drive him to my house every day just to keep him away from that shit. I really wish I could.
I wouldn’t even know how to get in touch with them. My daughter sure wouldn’t give me the details. She’s very closed about that sort of thing. I don’t even know his last name.
My biggest fear is to outlive my daughter. And since she’s queer (not trans, but queer), I worry about her being assaulted or even killed because of it, especially as people like Trump foster bigotry. Also, one of her closest friends is trans and I’m very worried about him. I know he’s being bullied in school and he already has self-harm issues. Thankfully, his parents support his transition, but he’s still not getting the support he needs and the school makes him use the girls bathroom and locker room. I hope he makes it through school okay. He’s only 12 and he’s already cutting himself, vaping and smoking weed.
I hope he finds the strength to get through this. Besides support from his family and having supportive friends, which no one should take for granted, there’s overcoming the bullying and finally, the hardest of all, the inner conflict. Topple this with puberty’s own ordeal, so everything gets even more confusing. But it’s also the one task, that drops the most loot, if you solve it. There’s nothing more rewarding than feeling inner peace, love yourself and coming of age strong and prosperous.
I do too. So much. I wish I could do something to help him, but I’ve only met him one time. I know the school he’s in is utter shit. We pulled my daughter out and put her in online school because of how much she was bullied. The administration actually made her apologize to her bullies after they doxxed her on Discord and prank called her repeatedly. Fuck that school. If I could get her friend to do online school with her, I’d drive him to my house every day just to keep him away from that shit. I really wish I could.
This would indeed be a solution, what’s deterring him to take the chance?
Doing online school, you mean? I don’t know his parents and I wouldn’t know how to convince them.
Do you think you’d be able to talk to them about it? If his parents are supportive, maybe they’d be receptive to online school too.
I wouldn’t even know how to get in touch with them. My daughter sure wouldn’t give me the details. She’s very closed about that sort of thing. I don’t even know his last name.
Maybe she could float the idea to him then?
That really sucks.
Maybe make up a reason for a party and get your kid to invite her friends. March break is coming up.