Vigil held on Huntington Beach Pier for Nex Benedict
By Orange County on February 24, 2024
Holding candles, a crowd of 40 to 50 people walked the length of the Huntington Beach Pier Friday night, holding a vigil for 16-year-old Nex Benedict some 1,500 miles away from the Oklahoma home where the teen died.
The teen’s cause of death is still being determined, police have said, but Benedict’s story and experience of bullying has sparked concern — and outrage — around the country, even drawing the attention of the White House.
Alex Mohajer holds the Pride Flag aloft as he leads nearly one hundred people down the Huntiongton Beach pier during a vigil for Nex Benedict, a non-binary 16 year-old who was badly beaten by peers and sustained major head trauma in the bathroom of an Oklahoma school, and died a day later. on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Ed Hirsch, left, and Pia Hirsch hold signs before the vigil Friday night. In response to reports that on Feb. 7th, non-binary 16 year-old Nex Benedict was badly beaten by peers and sustained major head trauma in the bathroom of an Oklahoma school, and died a day later, Orange County LGBTQ+ groups and their supporters, led by Pride at the Pier and Groundswell are planning a vigil at the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Daniel Jimenez, left, and Casandra Maldonado hold candles and a Mexican Pride flag as they listen to speakers at the Huntington Beach pier Friday evening. In response to reports that on Feb. 7th, non-binary 16 year-old Nex Benedict was badly beaten by peers and sustained major head trauma in the bathroom of an Oklahoma school, and died a day later, Orange County LGBTQ+ groups and their supporters, led by Pride at the Pier and Groundswell are planning a vigil at the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
A giant Pride flag billows in the wind on the Huntington Beach pier Friday at sunset. In response to reports that on Feb. 7th, non-binary 16 year-old Nex Benedict was badly beaten by peers and sustained major head trauma in the bathroom of an Oklahoma school, and died a day later, Orange County LGBTQ+ groups and their supporters, led by Pride at the Pier and Groundswell are planning a vigil at the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Three people stand to listen to the speeches at the begining of a vigil Friday evening at the Huntington Beach pier. The vigil was held for non-binary 16 year-old Nex Benedict who was badly beaten by peers and sustained major head trauma in the bathroom of an Oklahoma school, and died a day later. Orange County LGBTQ+ groups and their supporters, led by Pride at the Pier and Groundswell held a vigil at the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
Candles and notes were left at a makeshift shrine to Nex Benedict at the end of the Huntington Beach pier Friday at sunset In response to reports that on Feb. 7th, non-binary 16 year-old was badly beaten by peers and sustained major head trauma in the bathroom of an Oklahoma school, and died a day later. Orange County LGBTQ+ groups and their supporters, led by Pride at the Pier and Groundswell held a vigil at the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
A giant Pride Flag is unfurled at the end of the Huntiongton Beach pier Friday at sunset In response to reports that on Feb. 7th, non-binary 16 year-old Nex Benedict was badly beaten by peers and sustained major head trauma in the bathroom of an Oklahoma school, and died a day later, Orange County LGBTQ+ groups and their supporters, led by Pride at the Pier and Groundswell are planning a vigil at the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
According to reports, Benedict’s family, who said the teen used they/them pronouns and identified as nonbinary, said they had been bullied at school because of their gender identity and had been involved in an altercation in a school bathroom a day before their death. Police, in a preliminary autopsy statement, have said Benedict did not die as a result of that fight, according to the Associated Press, but the cause of death has not yet been determined.
Local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups Pride at the Pier and Groundswell said on social media say they have received many messages from Orange County residents “expressing their despair, their anger, their grief, their fear, their search for justice,” adding, “We have felt these emotions ourselves.”
So the vigil for Benedict — and “all local victims of queerphobic hate” — was organized for Friday evening.
Long Beach resident Shannon Snyder, who used they and them pronouns, said that as a nonbinary person, they felt it was important to show up in solidarity.
“People should be able to be protected,” Snyder, 29, said. “I think just showing up, bringing a light to Orange County in Nex’s honor is what’s needed.”
Before the march down the pier started, attendees embraced each other. The song “This is Me,” from the musical “The Last Showman,” played as they walked.
A giant pride flag was unfurled at the end of the pier. Attendees left notes of hopes and wishes for the future of the LGBTQ+ community.
Be First to Comment