In February, 16-year-old Nex Benedict, a student at Owasso High School in Oklahoma, was beaten by three older female students in the bathroom and then died the following day. Despite local authorities listing the manner of death as a suicide, pressure from civil rights groups grows as no charges have been filed. If your student has suffered harm from bullying or harassment, call the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or go online now.  

Non-Binary Teen's Death Ruled Suicide  

Following the above incident, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights launched an investigation in March after a request from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an LGBTQ+ advocacy group. HRC asserted that the school violated federal Title IX law, "failing to address documented instances of bullying, violence, and harassment. 

A subsequent autopsy report from the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office ruled the probable cause of Benedict's death was suicide—with no indication the physical altercation the day before was to blame. Owasso High School claims they followed district protocols to manage the incident, giving each of the students involved in the altercation a health assessment by a registered nurse. Although the witness reports state the three older girls were "beating her [Benedict's] head across the floor," the autopsy listed a combination of an antihistamine and antidepressant as the most likely cause of death. The Tulsa County District Attorney's Office added they "don't believe the filing of juvenile charges is warranted." 

LGBTQ+ Students' Rights 

Congress passed Title IX in 1972, prohibiting discrimination based on sex in federally-funded education programs and activities. In the decades since courts have interpreted the law to include discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. 

Title IX directs public schools to have stringent processes in place to identify, document, and manage any instances of bullying, harassment, or mistreatment. If not, they risk losing vital funding. Unfortunately, such rules are not guaranteed for the students they are created to protect. While federal laws and policies require schools to create and maintain safe learning environments, many fail, afflicting students with lasting emotional trauma. 

Help For Bullying Victims  

If school authorities fail to address incidents of bullying or discrimination adequately, legal remedies may be pursued. This could involve filing complaints with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights or initiating formal suits against the school district for violating Title IX or other relevant laws, among other avenues. While seeking redress is time-consuming and often requires the finesse and knowledge of a seasoned professional, you have access to a team that can assist your student in getting the help they need to remain safe at school. 

The Lento Law Firm is a nationwide team of dedicated attorneys with the experience needed to defend LGBTQ+ students from discrimination and how the school or district may manage such situations. Don't wait until a bad situation occurs to ask for professional help; get in touch with us to hear how we can improve your student's school life. Give life to your child's future by calling the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or going online now.