Melanie Simmons

I don't understand what it feels like to identify with a gender other than what my birth certificate states. I don't understand what it is like to identify as non-binary. I don't have any neurological or physiological mappings of those experiences. But...I don't need to have that kind of understanding. It's not a requirement to be able to behave like a civil human being and treat someone with respect. It's not. My favorite things to put on a hamburger are mayonnaise, peanut butter, and dill pickles. I know the majority of people don't put that on their hamburger. When I put that out-of-the-ordinary combo on my hamburger in a restaurant...it draws some stares. That's okay. It is the nature of human beings to instinctively stare at anything different. Our brains scan for differences. It is natural to stare. To not stare at differences takes conscious effort. The "stare" neurons always fire first, and do not require conscious intention. The "don't stare!" thought kicks in after we already have. Prolonged staring is generally perceived as rude, for sure, but the initial reaction happens faster than we can think. What's not okay is to walk over to my table and start harassing me because my hamburger preferences are different than yours. If that were to happen, well....let's just leave that scenario alone. A 16-year-old non-binary student in Oklahoma died one day after a fight that took place in an Oklahoma school restroom. (I'm writing with restraint, waiting for the official investigations to be finished/released.) An investigation is ongoing, but...available information gives us a general idea of what happened...and it's nauseating. Right now, it appears this young teen died because they were "different" from the majority of the kids in that school. The Republicans behind the anti-LGTBQ antics are Republicans who believe that anything they don't understand...is "bad" and must somehow go away. Anything different scares the living shit out of them. They don't care that it might mean the death of a high school student whose death was likely the result of a brutal beating...just because they went into the restroom...and had previously been tagged as "different." Because Oklahoma is such an anti-LGTBQ state, the attitudes of the students who felt threatened by this now deceased student had no doubt been shaped by policies and attitudes of the state...to include religious attitudes and beliefs. We cannot let the horrific death of Nex Benedict drift into the dustbin of "past news stories." That would take this tragedy to yet another level of sadness. Call the office of Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (405) 521-2342...and let his office know how you feel about Oklahoma's anti-LGTBQ campaign and the death of Nex Benedict. You can also call Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell (405) 521-2161.