LGBTQ+ suicide hotlines up more than 230% in Oklahoma following teen suicide, advocates calling for change
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – There was a large turnout at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Thursday afternoon. Hundreds were gathered there in memory of Nex Benedict and seeking justice for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Oklahoma 16-year-old non-binary teen one day after a fight at school broke out back in February. This week, a summary report from the medical examiner ruled their death a suicide.
On Thursday afternoon, students from Classen SAS High School at Northeast walked out of class in protest against bullies who target the LGBTQ+ community. KFOR learned the Oklahoma LGBTQ+ youth community are hurting more than ever right now.
Medical Examiner report reveals Nex Benedict’s cause of death, community reacts
A student at the high school told KFOR bullying in schools is at an all-time high and needs to end.
“We’ve all been in situations where we’ve been bullied before… Nex didn’t have that support in their school to really allow them to reach out to other people and talk and seek help. That was a major problem and that made me feel very upset… We’re all really upset with the way that our students are being represented right now in this wonderful building behind us,” said Ella Janes, a senior at Classen SAS High School at Northeast.
Currently, Oklahoma is topping every state in the nation when it comes to LQBTQ+ youth facing mental health emergencies.
“No matter how you rule a death, no matter how you say somebody dies, bullying is not acceptable,” said a protester at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Thursday afternoon.
Lance Preston is the founder and executive director of the Rainbow Youth Project, a national organization that promotes the health, safety, and wellness of the LGBTQ+ community for children and teens. He says since Oklahoma nonbinary, Nex Benedict’s death was announced, youth from the LGBTQ+ community have been utilizing the organization’s mental health crisis hot lines more than any other state in the nation.
The organization’s suicide hotline is seeing more than a 230 percent increase in calls, just in Oklahoma.
“But we started with a baseline of 63 calls a month in March of 2023. In February of 2024 we saw 1,097… Those were received after February 16th when the news of Nex Benedict broke. It was in that two-week period. It was just calls ringing off the hook,” said Lance Preston, founder and executive director with the Rainbow Youth Project.
There have been over a dozen bills introduced at the Oklahoma State Capitol this session targeting the Oklahoma LGBTQ+ community. Some of the bills have died but others are still alive.
Advocates for the LGBTQ+ community say those bills are affecting students.
“Words matter, right? And these laws matter. And so literally, the hateful speech and these hateful laws are trickling down into our children’s mouths and in their spewing the hate that they’re hearing,” said Kris Williams, on the board of the Oklahoma American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
A nonbinary student’s death after a high school fight has been ruled a suicide. Here’s what to know
Preston believes bills that target the LGBTQ+ community play an underlying role in encouraging classroom bullies, and in turn, create more mental health emergencies for LGBTQ+ students.
“Just from here in Oklahoma, if you look back over the past year, we saw increases start when anti LGBTQ bills started being passed and policies started being implemented, which is typical across the country,” said Preston.
Those in protest on Thursday said they’re just looking for a change.
“The fact that our children don’t even feel safe in the home, in our home, and they feel that death is their only option for any kind of saving grace, that’s despicable,” said Williams.
If you or someone you know is in need of mental health resources, call 988. You can also call the Rainbow Youth Project for help at (317)643-4888. There, you can get connected to local resources.
Meanwhile, house leadership inside the Oklahoma State Capitol issued a joint statement saying, “As public officials and policy makers, we have a sacred obligation to ensure that as we do the of the people, we do so with respect and dignity.” They go on to say, “We call on all Oklahomans to join us in our commitment to being respectful and deliberate in our language.”
You can read that full statement below:
On Thursday, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised state senators for approving anti-bullying legislation after recent teen suicides.
You can read that full statement below:
OKLAHOMA CITY (Mar 14, 2024) – In the aftermath of recent tragedies in Oklahoma involving incidents of high school bullying, Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised state senators today for approving legislation aimed at preventing severe bullying that can spur a young person’s suicide.
Authored by state Sen. Paul Rosino and state Rep. Steve Bashore, Senate Bill 1100 passed the Senate today on a 38-8 vote.
Drummond said the need for a stronger anti-bullying measure is evident after high-profile bullying appears to have contributed to the suicides of 17-year-old Mustang student Jot Turner and 16-year-old Owasso student Nex Benedict.
“Schools are seeing firsthand the crisis of teen suicide and how it can be stoked by horrific bullying,” he said. “Laws cannot force people to be kind to one another, but we can ensure there are consequences to the sort of bullying that leads to tragedies such as those we have seen in Mustang and Owasso.”
Sen. Rosino stressed the importance of SB 1100.
“No child in our state should ever feel that ending their life is the only way to escape harassment or bullying. As cyberbullying persists and worsens, it is imperative that we prioritize the well-being of our youth and do everything in our power to prevent these tragedies,” he said. “This legislation will hold those who inflict harm accountable and will offer further protections for young Oklahomans who have fallen victim to bullying or cyberbullying.”
SB 1100 would make it unlawful for an individual to “threaten, intimidate or harass, or threaten to inflict injury, physical harm, or severe emotional distress” to another person, whether in person or through electronic devices. Under the measure, a first violation would be a misdemeanor punishable by to one year in a county jail and/or a $500 fine. A second offense would face a maximum of two years in prison and/or a $1,000 fine. Repeated violations can carry a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine.
Moreover, the bill outlines penalties for an individual for whom “it can be shown to be the proximate cause” of a suicide or attempted suicide. Causing an attempted suicide would be punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $1,000, while causing a completed suicide would be punishable by a minimum of seven years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $5,000.
Suicide of young people has reached alarming levels in Oklahoma. According to the most recent data available from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, between 2012 and 2016 the state had the 10th highest rate of youth suicide deaths nationwide.
According to the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey compiled by the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, 23 percent of respondents “seriously considered” suicide over the year, while 10 percent attempted taking their own life.
The survey found 18 percent of responding high school students reported being bullied on school grounds and 16 percent reported being subject to bullying electronically. In addition, the survey indicated that those targeted by bullying were more likely to experience suicidal ideation than those who were not – 43.9 percent compared to 17.8 percent.
Even President Joe Biden released the following statement regarding Nex Benedict’s death. You can read the full statement here.
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