New York Post Reports: When nonbinary teen Nex Benedict committed suicide a day after allegedly being beaten up at school, the tragedy was quickly hijacked as a textbook case of anti-LGBT bullying. 

The president and the first lady weighed in with a “heartbroken” White House statement. 

“Nex Benedict, a kid who just wanted to be accepted, should still be here with us today. Non­binary and transgender people are some of the bravest Americans I know . . . In memory of Nex, we must all recommit to our work to end discrimination and address the suicide crisis impacting too many nonbinary and transgender children . . . No one should face the bullying that Nex did.” 

Hatemongering Nancy Pelosi went further: “The anti-trans fervor fueled by extreme Republicans across the country is having deadly consequences for our children,” posted the former House speaker.

“We must stand up against anti-trans hate.” 

The New Republic was just one media outlet that blamed the death on conservatives: “Oklahoma Republicans Passed a Bathroom Bill. Now a Trans Kid Is Dead.” 

But as usual with news stories that slot too neatly into a favored political narrative, it was a lie.

The truth was equally tragic but had no electoral payoff for Democrats wishing to paint their opponents as cruel bigots and Neanderthal book-banners. 

The Oklahoma medical examiner who ruled Benedict’s overdose death a suicide said the 16-year-old “did not die as a result of trauma” from the fight at school and nor did handwritten notes at the scene make reference to difficulties at school. 

Benedict suffered from “bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, self-harm (cutting), chronic tobacco abuse and chronic marijuana abuse.”