As a young queer Black kid growing up in one of the most segregated cities in the United States, I could’ve easily strayed to the streets or I could use the talents instilled in me to cultivate unity and bring people together. I chose the latter. Now I’m here—older, wiser, and braver than I’ve ever been in my entire life—as a non-binary singer/songwriter and photographer. I am bringing to life those once distant dreams of my seven-year-old self with art that speaks to every gender, age, and ethnicity. The powers of my voice, my Blackness, my queer identity, and my talents shine brightly together because of the difficulties and opportunities I’ve had in my life.

In a recent partnership with the amazing Diverse & Resilient, I’ve had the honor of building the multi-faceted “Colors In Bloom” campaign from the ground up. We created billboards and an original song, and I performed at the closing ceremony at the Creating Change conference in Washington, DC. With this campaign, we reminded our LGBTQ+ family doing their part to build a stronger community that they are beautiful, loved, and worthy, just as they are.

This next chapter of Lex brings about a new mission—one that promotes equality and gives a voice to the voiceless with new songs and imagery that bring about hope and awareness to the injustices that marginalized people face every day. I’m tired, we are tired, and the world is tired. I can’t wait for the day when we won’t have to say a person’s name because they lost their life because of the color of their skin, their gender identity, or who they love. Until then, SAY THEIR NAMES, and say them loudly.

We say George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Samuel Dubose, Sandra Bland, Walter Scott, Terrence Crutcher, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Ahmaud Aubrey, Christian Cooper, Bothem Sean, Atatiana Jefferson, Johnathan Ferrell, Renisha McBride, Jordan Davis, Aiyana Jones, Alton Sterling, Nina Pop, Serena Angelique Velázquez, Johanna Metzger, Valera, Monika Diamond, Yampi Méndez Arocho, Alexa Luciano Ruiz, Dustin Parker, Tony McDade, and so many more.

Now is our time to come together, now is the time for art to speak, and now is the time to show that we will not stand for injustice anymore. It’s time for small voices to make loud noises.