i have heard so many trans & gender non-conforming friends and strangers state how lucky they would have been to meet nex benedict. it’s hard not to feel that way. the majority of us see a piece of ourselves in nex and admire who they were as a person, how they stood up for themselves and their friend, and the way in which they were true to themselves amidst living in state with life threatening anti-trans rhetoric and policies.
i hate that we had to learn who nex was as a result of the horrific acts that took place on february 7. while these beatings happened at a school, by three cisgender older girls, these adolescents were the vessel carrying the hate learned from: their peers, their parents, their school, their law enforcement, their government, the media, etc. @ashoftexas said it best when they stated that where there is anti-trans rhetoric there is a always a chance of violence.
to nex: i am proud of everything you were and you did nothing wrong. i know the police officer in your hospital room antagonized you and manipulated you into somehow thinking that flicking water at the girls was what initiated the physical violence you endured. it did not. i am proud of you for standing up for yourself and your friend. you are a friend anyone would be lucky to have. i wish i could have met you and known about you and told you how i, as a 30 year old trans-masc nonbinary person, look up to you. i would have loved to exchange photos of each others cats and share how much comfort they bring us. or perhaps have a deep conversation about the brilliance of the walking dead and the profound impact the show has had on our lives. i wish you could still be here. still breathing. still playing and creating art. still cuddling with your cat zeus. you deserved to live a long and prosperous life, and i am so sorry nex. i love you and the lgbtqia+ community loves you. rest in peace and rest in power ♥️.
some really cool things happened in 2023! scroll to the last picture to see my ins & outs of 2024 🌱😌
this past year I used my voice more, let people in, shared my story, danced, laughed, held my community, took a lot of naps with my nephew, traveled, received awards, ran a half marathon , turned 30, cried at a muna concert for the third time, spent more time in hospitals, gained & lost, and started grad school.
