Next Benedict was 16 years old. They were a sophomore at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma,

a suburb of about 40,000 people just north of Tulsa.

Next was non-binary, meaning they identified as neither male nor female.

As Nexus primary caretaker, Sue would put it,

next identified as quote, right down the middle.

Sue Benedict is often referred to in the media as

nexus mother but in reality is their biological grandmother who raised necks for

more or less their whole life. As it pertained to nexus's non-binary identity, Sue has said that she was still learning about it, but she always kept an open mind.

Sue's husband told the independent, quote, when you're old, you don't always understand it, but it would be very boring if we were all the same.

It's on the inside that matters the most.

When Sue or her husband used Nex's birth name or their old pronouns,

Nex would correct them, and they'd all just get on with it.

Next was a stellar student.

They loved reading and Minecraft and their cat.

Next also dealt with bullying for years, which will come as

approximately no surprise to any queer person who has ever attended a school.

They first started telling Sue about the bullying last year. On February 7th, just a few weeks ago,

next was in the girls bathroom with their other trans friend, mind you, Oklahoma passed a law recently that

students must use bathrooms consistent with the sex they were assigned at birth and

Next and their friend got into an altercation with three other girls who had been bullying them in In text messages, next sent to a family member who later shared them with the local news,

next wrote, quote, they had been bullying me and my friends,

so I got tired of it and I poured some water on them and all three came after me.

...