This weekend Louisville’s Mandala House is hosting their first LGBTQIA+ Legal Rights Day, a free event offering a wealth of resources designed to inform, educate, and uplift the LGBTQ+ community in an uncertain time. Resources include access to volunteer lawyers and notaries, on-site officiants, mental health resources, and an all day schedule of expert speakers and panels. The event is taking place on Sunday, February 9, 2025, from 12 PM to 6 PM at the Mandala House, located at 633 E. Baxter Ave.

“The LGBTQ+ Legal Rights Day is a collaboration among several local organizations designed to resource our community with knowledge, legal assistance, mentorship, coping skills, support services, allyship, and actionable social justice opportunities to navigate the challenges we face in the current political climate,” said Mandala House Executive Director Jacks Gilles. “There will be a conference-style schedule of events occurring throughout the building including info sessions, legal aid, creative activities, and support group meet and greets.”

Attendees will have access to mental health resources, including emotional well-being support and spaces to find community. Volunteer lawyers will be on hand to offer assistance with vital legal documents such as power of attorney, advanced directives, wills, legal name changes, and more. And on-site officiants will be available for marriage license ceremonies, ensuring love and commitment are celebrated and legally affirmed. When discussing their goals for the event Gilles said, “I hope people walk away feeling informed, empowered, and connected. I hope everyone has some new contacts in their phone and the next opportunity to continue the work scheduled in their calendar.”

This event follows in a similar vein of Legally Wed, held late last year in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky (and covered by us here). The event was organized by community leader Sam Bowling to give a small amount of security to a growing ever fearful LGBTQ community.

Local lawyers willing to volunteer time were gathered to answer adoption questions, assist with power or attorney documents, and discuss estate planning with couples. Over 300 people showed up for help, far more than expected, highlighting the uncertainty and fear post-election. Now, the community says the need is even greater.

“We are currently living in the most recent version of a classic dystopian storyline. What they don’t understand is that the queer community has been taking care of one another for generations and we will find a way to survive and thrive.” Gilles said. “We do this best when we are in community, sharing our resources, ideas, knowledge, compassion, and joy. Same for the communities of color, immigrants, those who are differently-abled, and other minoritized groups who have to overcome obstacles of oppression on a daily basis. This event is needed because shit is hard right now and we need to regroup and hold the weight of it together.”

If you want to see an event like this in your community, you can absolutely make it happen. Don’t worry about how many people will be there or everything being perfect. Think of your new event as a “first go” and approach it as if you will have the next decade to get the kinks out as you hold your event, take notes on what worked and didn’t, make adjustments, and do it again. Find other community members, allies, supportive businesses, and community organizations and invite them to partner with you on the event. Like me, you’ll meet amazing, creative, and passionate people who will make the event in your community better than you could imagine. Soon enough, people will be looking forward to the next time!

What: LGBTQIA+ Legal Rights Day