Owasso Public Schools under investigation by Education Department

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has initiated an investigation into Owasso Public Schools after it received a formal complaint from the Human Rights Campaign last week regarding the handling of sex-based harassment incidents.

The investigation, announced late Friday, aims to address the Oklahoma school district’s response to harassment that may have contributed to the tragic death of Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old transgender student of Choctaw heritage.

HRC President Kelley Robinson spearheaded the complaint to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona last week, urging the department in a letter to use its enforcement mechanisms to prevent future tragedies and hold those responsible for Benedict’s death accountable.

“Nex’s family, community, and the broader 2SLGBTQI+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex+) community in Oklahoma are still awaiting answers following their tragic loss,” Robinson said in a press release announcing the investigation. “We appreciate the Department of Education responding to our complaint and opening an investigation — we need them to act urgently so there can be justice for Nex and so that all students at Owasso High School and every school in Oklahoma can be safe from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.”

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The heart of the investigation centers around the events leading to the death of Benedict, who was initially identified as nonbinary, utilizing they/them pronouns.

However, during a vigil held in his memory, friends clarified that Nex preferred he/him pronouns and identified as transgender.

The Department of Education’s letter to Robinson highlights the serious nature of the allegations against Owasso Public Schools, indicating a thorough examination of whether the district failed to appropriately respond to reported harassment, in line with Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.

This federal investigation follows three older students allegedly assaulting Benedict in a school restroom, leading to widespread outcry over the safety and treatment of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive students within the education system. Benedict died the day after the incident, but the cause of the youth’s death has not been undetermined.

Despite Owasso Public Schools’ claims of following district protocols and intervention by students and staff during the altercation, the community and Benedict’s family seek accountability and substantive action to prevent similar incidents.

Body camera footage from the Owasso Police Department revealed a conversation between Nex and School Resource Officer Caleb Thompson, providing critical context to the altercation.

Nex said the conflict arose “because of the way that we dressed,” leading to bullying.

Nex recounted being jumped by three girls after retaliating against their harassment by squirting water at them. Officer Thompson’s response in the footage highlighted the complex dynamics of school bullying, suggesting that Nex’s defensive action could be perceived as part of a “mutual fight,” thereby complicating the legal implications of the altercation.

Amid the investigation and heightened public scrutiny, Robinson has also reached out to Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting a Department of Justice investigation into Benedict’s death, and to Margaret Coates, superintendent of the Owasso School District, advocating for the implementation of HRC’s Welcoming Schools program to foster an inclusive and safe environment for LGBTQ+ students.

This article originally appeared on Advocate.com, and is shared here as part of an LGBTQ+ community exchange between Q Voice News and Equal Pride.