President Biden on Nex Benedict's death: 'No one should face the bullying that Nex did'

Editor's note: If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, addictive tendencies, stress and other mental health issues, you can call or text 988, Oklahoma's Mental Health Hotline, or call 911.

President Joe Biden responded Thursday to the death of an Oklahoma teen by calling on the country to do a better job of protecting transgender and nonbinary children.

The statement released by the White House comes one day after the release of a summary autopsy report that concluded Nex Benedict died by suicide.

The Owasso High School student died in February, one day after an altercation with other students inside a school bathroom. The circumstances surrounding the 16-year-old’s death have drawn nationwide scrutiny, particularly over the measures schools take to keep transgender children safe. Nex used the pronouns they, them, he and him, and their gender identity did not align with their gender assigned at birth.

“Every young person deserves to have the fundamental right and freedom to be who they are, and feel safe and supported at school and in their communities,” Biden said. “Nex Benedict, a kid who just wanted to be accepted, should still be here with us today.”

More: After Nex's death, former LGBTQ+ students say Owasso has troubling history of bullying

The president said no student should face the types of bullying Nex faced and said schools and parents should take reports of bullying seriously.

Federal investigation into Nex Benedict's death

The U.S. Department of Education has launched a civil rights investigation into Owasso High to determine whether administrators adequately responded to reports of sex-based bullying during the current school year.

In honor of Nex, Biden asked people to “recommit to our work to end discrimination and address the suicide crisis impacting too many nonbinary and transgender children.”

The Oklahoma chief medical examiner’s office said it planned to issue its full report into the teen’s death later this month. In a one-page summary made public Wednesday, Dr. Ross Miller, a state pathologist, said the teen died of toxicity from diphenhydramine, an antihistamine, and fluoxetine, an anti-depression medication.

An attorney representing the Benedict family issued a statement Thursday that called on policymakers, school officials and others to work to end bullying "to prevent any other family from having to suffer through the heartache now borne by Nex's loved ones."

It remains undetermined whether any charges will be filed in connection with Nex’s death or the fight that preceded it. Steve Kunzweiler, the district attorney for Tulsa County, said his office would not comment until prosecutors have received all reports related to the investigation, including the full findings from the medical examiner.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: President Biden calls for action in response to Nex Benedict's death