Trans Youth Poetry Showcase

A pre-game to The Telling Room 20th Anniversary Book Launch which will be held later in the evening at Mechanic’s Hall. This special reading includes Telling Room alumni Leigh Ellis and current Pub Workshop Editor, Len Harrison. Len Harrison is the Junior Class Poet of the Waynflete School in Portland, Maine, and has been a writer for as long as he can remember. When not writing, they can be found reading science fiction novels at the beach, working backstage at Franklin Theatre, or hiking the Midcoast with friends and family. This poem, “After the Turtle Years”, is a reflection on his life since the COVID-19 pandemic. Leigh is a junior at Columbia University studying creative writing and education. He loves writing poetry exploring trans identity and spreading trans joy. His poem "Squid Season" was awarded the 2022 Maine Literary Award for youth poetry. When not writing trans poems, Leigh also enjoys making art, listening to music, and rollerblading. His favorite season is spring.