 Hi. My name is Lex. I'm a transgender poet, organizer, and educator here in Santa Cruz County and have been a long time lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth advocate. I have the honor and the privilege of introducing and coordinating the Queer Youth Task Force's newest LGBT Youth Focus Program, the Transgender Teen Project of Santa Cruz County. The mission and intent of this much-needed program is to provide resources, support, and services to transgender teens countywide, as well as promote positive awareness for transgender youth. Many people have been made aware of the devastating challenges that many LGBT youth face as they seek to live their lives in the most honest and authentic way. Transgender youth are at an even higher risk of suicide, bullying, addiction, homelessness, assault, and harassment as they're lesbian, gay, and bisexual counterparts. As an often misunderstood and underrepresented population, many transgender youth find themselves isolated and without the resources or the support to navigate their unique maturation process and the often challenging social climate they encounter. I believe that we as a community have a responsibility to nurture these young people and an opportunity to learn from their unique journey and the courage that it takes to know who you are and choose to follow your truth. The Transgender Teen Project of Santa Cruz County aims to not only support the immediate needs of transgender youth facing adversity, but also to support our greater community in creating an affirming and positive environment for all youth to grow and develop to their full capacity. I know that together, working toward a vision of inclusion and empowerment, we can achieve a powerful generation of young people who have the audacity to incite and create lasting and sustainable change that benefits the health and well-being of all. For more information, to donate, or for the opportunity to get involved, please visit www.kytf.org. Together, I know that we can transform our legacy.