Oklahoma

What does gender expansive mean? Oklahoma teen’s death puts gender identity in spotlight.

Published

1 year ago

February 22, 2024

What does gender expansive mean? Oklahoma teen’s death puts gender identity in spotlight.

The death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict in the wake of a fight at an Owasso, Oklahoma, high school has drawn widespread attention after reports that the teen was long bullied for their gender identity, which friends have described as “gender expansive.”

But what does gender expansive mean? According to national LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG, it’s an umbrella term for individuals who don’t align with traditional gender categories, or who expand ideas of gender expression or identity.

“It might be used because someone has identities outside of what’s socially accepted,” said Mackenzie Harte, PFLAG’s manager of learning and inclusion, adding that the term is one they’ve increasingly heard used by parents and educators regarding to youth. “It’s where someone is not conforming to social ideas of what gender should be.”

The term has been around since at least 2012, when LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Human Rights Campaign surveyed more than 10,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth across the United States. The term “gender-expansive” emerged from the report to classify youth who didn’t identify with traditional gender roles but were otherwise not confined to one gender narrative or experience.

“This term allows us to talk about youth who don’t meet our ‘traditional’ understandings of gender without putting their identity in a box,” the report read.

Gender expansive is not synonymous with nonbinary, PFLAG notes; even cisgender individuals can embrace the term. Instead, it’s another way of saying gender non-conforming — the more preferred term, according to the group.

“While some parents and allies use the term, gender non-conforming (GNC) is the preferred term by the LGBTQ+ community,” the group says as part of a glossary definition on PFLAG’s website. “It is important to use the term preferred by an individual with whom you are interacting.”

What happened to Nex Benedict?

Nex, a 16-year-old who loved reading, art, and playing Minecraft, was hurt during a fight that erupted in an Owasso High School bathroom on Feb. 7.

That afternoon, officers responded to a local hospital, where Sue Benedict, Nex’s mother, reported the assault and urged police to follow up with school administrators. Nex was later discharged, but the following day Benedict called 911 to report that Nex was having medical issues, including shallow breathing.

According to police, she said Nex had hit their head on the bathroom floor during the altercation. Emergency crews performed CPR before Nex was taken to a Tulsa hospital and pronounced dead.

Police said on Wednesday that an autopsy determined Nex did not die as a result of trauma. But medical examiners have yet to disclose their complete findings.

Oklahoma youth long endured bullying

Family members have said that Nex used the pronouns they/them, and interviews indicate friends believe Nex was still exploring their gender identity at the time of their death.

Executive director Nicole McAfee of Freedom Oklahoma, a group advocating to make the state safer for people of all genders and sexualities, said friends of Nex described them as gender expansive, using they/them pronouns with some people and he/him pronouns with those closest to him.

While it remains unclear whether the altercation involved Nex’s gender identity, the friends said other students had bullied Nex for their gender identity “for well over a year,” McAfee said.

More young adults identifying as nonbinary or transgender

Results of a Pew Research Center survey released in June 2022 showed a record high 5% of young adults identify as transgender or nonbinary. About 1.5% of the U.S. adult population identifies as such, the survey found, and more Americans report knowing someone who is transgender compared to five years ago.

LGBTQ+ advocates attribute the rise to more accurate media representation, the growing visibility of transgender and nonbinary people on social media platforms and the internet, and a broadening of terminology and social acceptance offering previously unavailable avenues for self-expression.

The survey also found growing awareness of terms such as nonbinary and gender fluid, especially among young adults. Both terms refer to individuals who don’t identify as strictly male or female.

The survey was devised by Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C., as part of efforts to better understand the experiences of transgender and nonbinary individuals in a political and social climate that has put gender identity in the spotlight — particularly among Republican candidates looking to sway voters as the 2024 election approaches.

Do ‘culture war’ talks cause discomfort? Study says teachers and students are wary about discussing gender identity

‘Please do not judge us as Nex was judged’

Jordan Korphage, the school district’s director of communications, has not responded to inquiries about whether the school had gotten prior bullying reports involving Nex or whether the school had any support groups for students of various gender and sexual identities.

But relatives confirmed this week that the family plans to conduct an independent investigation, pleading with officials to “hold those responsible to account and to ensure it never happens again.”

On the GoFundMe page she launched to raise money for funeral expenses, Sue Benedict expressed gratitude for an outpouring of financial and emotional support and apologized for not using Nex’s chosen name in her original post.

“As parents, we were still learning the correct forms,” Benedict wrote. “Please do not judge us as Nex was judged, please do not bully us for our ignorance on the subject. Nex gave us that respect and we are sorry in our grief that we overlooked them. I lost my child, the headstone will have the correct name of their choice.”

Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY; Molly Young, The Oklahoman

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Oklahoma

OU Baseball: Oklahoma Wilts as North Carolina Overpowers OU Ace

Published

6 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Press Room

OU Baseball: Oklahoma Wilts as North Carolina Overpowers OU Ace

Oklahoma’s Witherspoon brothers reversed roles this weekend in the NCAA Tournament.

No. 3 starter Malachi Witherspoon, who posted a 1-8 record in SEC play with a 6.08 earned run average, dominated Nebraska on Friday night at the Chapel Hill Regional.

Then ace Kyson Witherspoon, who went 5-3 against the Southeastern Conference with a 2.98 ERA, was rocked for six unearned runs in the first inning against host North Carolina on Saturday.

Baseball can be weird sometimes.

Kyson Witherspoon’s early struggles against the Tar Heels eventually became an 11-5 Sooner loss at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, as the No. 5 national seed Tar Heels rolled to an easy victory.

OU fell to 36-21 on the season, while UNC improved to 44-12.

The No. 2-seed Sooners now face elimination Sunday in an 11 a.m. CT rematch with Nebraska. OU beat the 3-seed Cornhuskers 7-4 in their first-round game on Friday after jumping on top 7-0. The Tar Heels await the survivor of that contest Sunday at 5 p.m. CT. Nebraska eliminated 4-seed Holy Cross 4-1 on Saturday morning.

After OU left a runner in scoring position in the top of the first, North Carolina most certainly did not in the bottom of the first.

Kane Kepley reached on what would become a fatal error by Dawson Willis, but Witherspoon quickly retired the next two hitters.

That would be the Sooners’ only highlight early.

Two-out singles from Gavin Gallaher, Hunter Stokely, Alex Madera and Tyson Bass staked UNC to a 3-0 lead — all unearned due to the error at third base.

That’s when right fielder Sam Angelo broke it open with a three-run home run to left field that made it 6-0.

“Just figuring out what we’re doing,” OU coach Skip Johnson said during a fourth-inning in-game interview with the ESPN broadcast crew. “If we play good catch in the first inning, I think he throws six pitches. They took the momentum and we’ve gotta get some momentum back.”

Witherspoon’s previous season high for runs allowed — for an entire game — was four (twice). The Tar Heels scored six in their first eight batters.

His previous season-high for hits allowed was six (four times), but UNC had seven after loading the bases again in the second inning.

The Sooners were chasing the scoreboard rest of the night, and that was a tough task against Carolina hurler Jason DeCaro, who came into the weekend with a 10-4 record and a 3.42 ERA. DeCaro went six innings, allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out eight while walking none.

UNC added a run in the fourth to make it 7-0 on Gallaher’s RBI single to score Kepley, but things got really out of hand in the fifth.

Bass and Angelo hammered back-to-back solo home runs to extend the Tar Heels’ lead to 9-0 and end Witherspoon’s night.

Witherspoon hadn’t given up more than one home run in a game all season, but he served up three on this night. His four-inning start also tied his shortest outing of the season (he threw four innings at Alabama on March 28).

Witherspoon finished the night yielding a season-high 10 hits and nine runs — three earned — and tied both his season-low with just four strikeouts and his season-high with three walks.

“Kyson’s been really good for us all year,” Johnson said.

The Sooners finally answered with a pair of runs in the sixth on Sam Christiansen’s RBI double and Kyle Branch’s RBI groundout.

But North Carolina answered immediately with a run in the bottom of the inning when Gavyn Jones gave up a hit batter, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Madera to make it 10-2.

OU plated another run when Drew Dickerson opened the seventh with a single, advanced on back-to-back ground-ball outs and came home on Trey Gambill’s RBI single up the middle to cut it to 10-3.

Again, however, the Tar Heels answered when Beau Sampson walked Angelo to lead off, then misfired a pair of wild pitches and eventually gave up an RBI single to Carter French for an 11-3 lead.

OU made it 11-4 in the eighth when Christiansen drew a one-out walked, took second on a passed ball and scored on Dasan Harris’ RBI single to left.

Jaxson Willits make it 11-5 in the ninth when he delivered an RBI single to score Jason Walk.

Left hander Cameron Johnson came in to pitch the eighth for OU. Johnson, a weekend starter over the first seven weeks of the season after transferring from LSU, hadn’t made an appearance on the mound since April 13 and had only thrown 20 innings total in 2025.

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Oklahoma

What channel is Texas vs Oklahoma softball today? Time, TV schedule for WCWS game

Published

23 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Press Room

What channel is Texas vs Oklahoma softball today? Time, TV schedule for WCWS game

It’s Red River Rivalry time in the 2025 Women’s College World Series.

No. 6 Texas and No. 2 Oklahoma will square off in the winner’s bracket of the WCWS from Devon Field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, presenting a rematch of the 2024 championship series. With a win, either team would move that much closer to booking a return to the end-of-tournament series to determine the national champion.

The Longhorns used a dominant start from Teagan Kavan to earn a 3-0 victory over No. 3 Florida, while Ella Parker delivered a three-run walk-off home run off Karlyn Pickens and No. 7 Tennessee to steal a win. Patty Gasso and the Sooners are looking to earn a fifth straight championship.

Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s WCWS winner’s bracket game between rivals Texas and Oklahoma:

Stream Texas vs. Oklahoma with ESPN+

What channel is Texas vs Oklahoma softball on today?

TV channel: ABC
Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+

Texas and Oklahoma’s winner’s bracket game will air on ABC. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and ESPN+, the latter of which is ESPN’s subscription service. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Jessica Mendoza (analyst) and Michele Smith (analyst) will be on the call, with Holly Rowe serving as the sideline reporter.

Texas vs Oklahoma softball start time

Date: Saturday, May 31
Time: 3 p.m. ET

First pitch for Texas and Oklahoma’s winner’s bracket game is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET from Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Texas softball schedule 2025

Below is Texas’ postseason schedule. For the Longhorns’ full schedule, click here.

Austin Regional

Friday, May 16: No. 6 Texas 10, Eastern Illinois 2
Saturday, May 17: No. 6 Texas, Michigan 4
Sunday, May 18: No. 6 Texas 9, UCF 0

Austin Super Regional

Thursday, May 22: No. 11 Clemson 7, No. 6 Texas 4
Friday, May 23: No. 6 Texas 7, No. 11 Clemson 5
Saturday, May 24: No. 6 Texas 6,No. 11 Clemson 5

Women’s College World Series

Thursday, May 29: No. 6 Texas 3, No. 3 Florida 0
Saturday, May 31: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma (3 p.m.)

Oklahoma softball schedule 2025

Below is Oklahoma’s postseason schedule. For the Sooners’ full schedule, click here.

Norman Regional:

Friday, May 16: No. 2 Oklahoma 8, Boston College 0
Saturday, May 17: No. 2 Oklahoma 11, Cal 2
Sunday, May 18: No. 2 Oklahoma 12, Cal 1

Normal Super Regional:

Friday, May 23: No. 2 Oklahoma 3, No. 15 Alabama 0
Saturday, May 24: No. 2 Oklahoma 13, No. 15 Alabama 2

Women’s College World Series:

Thursday, May 29: No. 2 Oklahoma 4, No. 7 Tennessee 3
Saturday, May 31: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Texas (3 p.m.)

Women’s College World Series schedule

Women’s College World Series: May 29-June 6
WCWS finals: June 4-5/6

The Women’s College World Series will run from May 29 through June 6, with the three-game WCWS finals taking place from June 4 through June 5 or June 6, depending on whether teams need the “if necessary” game.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma State Fair announces 2025 concert lineup, from Black Stone Cherry to Joe Nichols

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2025

Press Room

Oklahoma State Fair announces 2025 concert lineup, from Black Stone Cherry to Joe Nichols

The 2025 Oklahoma State Fair will take place September 11-21 at the OKC Fairgrounds.
Nightly free concerts on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage will feature artists like Joe Nichols, Sister Sledge, and Black Stone Cherry.
The Bandshell will showcase Oklahoma performers daily.

The Oklahoma State Fair is about three and a half months away, but live music fans can go ahead and mark their calendars, since the event’s organizers have announced this year’s eclectic concert lineup.

One of the state’s largest yearly events, the 2025 Oklahoma State Fair is set for Sept. 11-21 at the OKC Fairgrounds, 3001 General Pershing Blvd.

This year’s fair will spotlight rock ‘n’ roll bands, country music artists, contemporary Christian hitmakers, R&B groups, tribute bands and more on its Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage.

Admission to the nightly concerts is free with outside gate admission to the fair.

The 2025 Oklahoma State Fair concert lineup on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage is:

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11: Joe Nichols, the country singer known for hits like “Gimme That Girl” and “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” returns to the Oklahoma State Fair.
7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12: Sister Sledge, the Philadelphia sibling group of Debbie, Joni, Kathy and Kim Sledge, entered the cultural consciousness with their 1979 worldwide hit and iconic album “We Are Family.”
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13: Black Stone Cherry with The Kentucky Headhunters, two rock bands from the Bluegrass State, are heading this fall to the Oklahoma State Fair.
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14: ZZ-KC is based in Kansas City and tours the country paying tribute to Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top.
7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15: Josiah Queen, the “I am Barabbas” hitmaker who was named one of Amazon’s Breakthrough Artists to Watch for 2024, just wrapped his first headline tour as a contemporary Christian recording artist.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone will bring their 1960s hits like “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” and “I’m into Something Good” to OKC.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept: 17: Shawn Klush – Tribute to Elvis returns to the Oklahoma State Fair with the addition of a horn section to add to the authenticity and excitement of his homage to The King.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18: Drew Baldridge, a country singer-songwriter hailing from Patoka, Illinois, has scored hit singles with “Dance with Ya” and “She’s Somebody’s Daughter.”
7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19: Hairball, a tribute band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025 by performing classics by KISS, Van Halen, Queen and more, complete with pyrotechnics, costume changes and theatrical flair.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20: Stephen Pearcy the Voice of RATT with Quiet Riot brings together the frontman for glam metal band behind the 1980s hits “Round and Round” and “Lay It Down” with the Los Angeles quartet known as the first heavy metal band to top Billboard charts.
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21: Los Herederos de Nuevo Leon, a regional Mexican band specializing in norteño music, returns to close out the Oklahoma State Fair, which traditionally reserves the final concert slot on its Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage for a Spanish-language act with appeal for a multi-generational Latino audience.

“I have been buying talent for the Oklahoma State Fair for quite some time, and I can honestly say this is one of the strongest lineups I can remember,” fair spokesman Scott Munz said in an email to The Oklahoman.

“Without hesitation, there is truly something for every musical taste during the 11 days of the 2025 Oklahoma State Fair.”

Along with the concerts on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage, the Oklahoma State Fair will feature a diverse lineup of Oklahoma performers from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily at The Bandshell.

For more information on the concerts, carnival rides, food vendors, performances and other attractions at the 2025 Oklahoma State Fair, go to https://okstatefair.com.

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