Hundreds of LGBTQ, civil rights groups call for removal of top Oklahoma education official following Nex Benedict’s death

Hundreds of LGBTQ and civil rights groups are calling for the removal of Oklahoma’s top education official in the wake of the death of LGBTQ high school student Nex Benedict.

More than 350 organizations “advocating for equality across the U.S.” issued a letter to legislative leaders in the Sooner State calling “on the Oklahoma Legislature to immediately remove Ryan Walters from his position as Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction,” according to a Wednesday press release from the Human Rights Campaign.

“Superintendent Ryan Walters is responsible for fostering a culture of violence and hate against the [Two Spirit, transgender and gender nonconforming+] community in Oklahoma schools,” the Wednesday letter reads. “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.”

Benedict, a high school sophomore in Owasso, died on Feb. 8, a day after a physical altercation in a girls bathroom at school. Sue Benedict, Benedict’s grandmother and legal guardian, said they had faced bullying at school since last year over their gender identity. 

Despite outcry over Benedict’s death and the links advocates have drawn between it and policies aimed at LGBTQ people in Oklahoma, Walters has continued to defend his policies.

“The safety and security of our students is my top priority as well as the first responsibility of Oklahoma schools. I mourn the loss of our student in Owasso and pray for God’s comfort for the family and the entire Owasso community,” Walters said in a previous statement to The Hill. 

“We have witnessed the radical left and their accomplices in the media use the tragic death of a student to push a political agenda and a false narrative. It is despicable and harms our students and communities,” he continued. “I will continue to fight for parents and will never back down to the woke mob.”