PT Proud SIG statement condemns death of Nex Benedict

The PT Proud Special Interest Group released a statement condemning the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict (he/they) in Owasso, Oklahoma after he was violently attacked at school on February 7.

"We denounce the unsafe and hostile learning environments that students who are Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual, Intersex, and other diverse sexualities/genders (2SLGBTQAI+) frequently face across our nation," said the statement. "It is our public schools’ board, administrators, teachers, and staffs’ (including physical therapists) ethical and legal responsibility to ensure students’ safety. We must hold them accountable. All children regardless of their identity or expression should experience their school to be free of hate, violence, bullying, and discrimination."

Read the full statement here.