Valerie Spencer describes herself as "being a woman from birth, but discovering that just a bit later." With the love of her dynamic mother, Lulu, she was able to overcome the toughness of being different.

Valerie has worked in the arena of social services, specifically representing HIV prevention and services delivery as it relates to Transgender persons. Over time, she has worked with health departments, universities, community groups, conferences and community based organizations in the country. She believes Trans-issues to be very diverse, often moving far beyond HIV into areas more commonly ignored by mainstream society: sexism, gender phobia, poverty, and marginalization as a whole.

Valerie has dipped into artistic endeavors by co-starring in the 2004 V-Day production of "The Vagina Monologues," featuring an all trans women cast. She is also featured in the documentary, "Beautiful Daughters," aired on the LOGO network and Showtime television. Her latest work in progress is the development of Transcend Empowerment Institute, an organization which addresses empowerment on a social, cultural and holistic basis.

Valerie is a noted author of Los Angeles County's first curriculum addressing Transgenderism from a people of color perspective; and has developed other TG specific training and seminar materials. She has just co-developed and co-facilitated the Transgender Leadership Academy: a collaborative effort of the Los Angeles Transgender Youth Consortium and The FTM Alliance. "In the past, transgender leadership came into being by way of osmosis. This was a chance to take all of the information that we as leaders have gained, share it in a constructive manner and shape our mavericks of the future."