LEO Weekly sat down with Mandala House Executive Director Jacks Gilles over email to discuss what the 2025 LGBTQ+ Legal Rights Day is and how those in the community can find the resources they need, all for free, at this annual event.
What inspired Mandala House to host its first LGBTQ+ Legal Rights Day?
Gilles: One of the greatest gifts of being a therapist is having the honor to bear witness to people learning, growing, healing, and becoming their full selves. This happens in so many ways; for instance, it could be deconstructing a worldview, finding community, clarifying values, or achieving gender congruence. Since opening our doors in 2016, Mandala House has been an affirming practice for the LGBTQ+ community, including providing medically necessary mental healthcare to Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming adolescents (14+) and adults.
In 2023, legislative actions were appearing across the country and here in KY that threatened our patients’ rights to self-determination, healthcare, safety, dignity, and joy. As a practice, we chose to advocate for our patients by joining the youth-organized rally at the Capitol in Frankfort. Since then, we’ve stayed involved by hosting Fairness Townhalls and raising money for copay assistance for transgender youth with a block party last summer.
The new administration has made clear its plan to oppress and erase the LGBTQ+ community among other minoritized populations, such as immigrants, people of color, and people living with disabilities through their anti-trans, anti-immigrant, and anti-DEI policies. Everyday we hear the negative impact on the people we work with and their loved ones.
The LGBTQ+ Legal Rights Day is our response and we wouldn’t be able to pull this off
alone. This event was organized and resourced by 10 organizations from our community, including Mandala House, Metro United Way, Louisville Youth Group, Fairness, KY Health Justice Network, ACLU, Fauver Law, Queer Kentucky, MeadorMade Creative, and Justice and Joy Law, along with 40-50 volunteers, including lawyers and physicians, educators, therapists, content experts, allies, and community leaders coming together to hold space, educate, share resources, mobilize, and answer questions from the people most closely impacted by these proposed bills and executive orders.
What are some of the key legal resources being offered at the event?
Gilles: The first goal of the event has always been to have legal support available to assist people with filing documents that would protect them or their family if laws change that would put them at risk. Volunteer lawyers are volunteering their time to assist with Name Changes, Wills, and Power of Attorney paperwork. However, while the assistance is free. There are still filing fees, which we hope to cover with donations from the event.
The second goal is to inform people of their rights in as many areas as possible:
housing, financial, healthcare, education, etc. We will cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, so we are already planning opportunities for those who would like more
information or follow-up presentations.
The third goal is to provide concrete and accessible ways for people to get involved in
advocacy, whether it is in Frankfort or a sidewalk chat with a neighbor when you walk
your dog.
The last goal is to bring people together, because together we are stronger, more
informed and more grounded. Together is how we get through this.
What are some of the most pressing legal concerns facing the LGBTQ+ community right now?
Gilles: There are many pressing legal concerns and several great resources for tracking them (see Queer Kentucky and Fairness). I’ll highlight the access to healthcare and identity documents for TGNC individuals because of the impact on mental health, physical health, social belonging, access to travel/services, and physical safety.
How can individuals prepare ahead of time to make the most of the legal resources offered?
Gilles: If you are requesting legal assistance, please complete the form on the event page or email advocacy@mandalalouisville.com to let us know so we can communicate with you in advance to help you prepare and bring the correct documents with you.
What mental health resources will be available at the event?
Gilles: There will be mental health professionals on-site for general support to discuss
strategies for dealing with uncertainty, checking in on loved ones, signs of crisis, and
crisis intervention resources. A somatic practitioner will also be on site helping people
regulate their nervous systems and learn meditation techniques for coping. Lastly,
LGBTQ+ and Family support groups will have representatives in a designated Meet and Greet area.
Do you hope to make LGBTQIA+ Legal Rights Day an annual event?
Gilles: Our real hope is that people’s rights won’t be under attack next year, but this is going to be a marathon, so go ahead and pencil it in, and we’ll see y’all next year!
Anyone can ask questions and/or offer support by emailing advocacy@mandalalouisville.com.
This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 13, 2025.
