LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The first ‘Be You Block Party’ was held on Sunday to celebrate LGBTQ+ youth. Several organizations attended to give out information.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Mandala House hosted a block party in Louisville to create a safe space for queer youth

  •  The Justice Center at All Peoples and the Umbrella Stand organized the event with the Mandala House

  •  Several organizations were there to give out information about the resources and services they offer

The event was held at the Mandala House, a mental health center. Its neighbor, the Umbrella Stand and the Justice Center at All Peoples worked with the mental health center to organize the block party and create a safe space for queer youth.

“To create a space like this where they can come and know that, ‘We got you, and you are valued, and you are beautiful, and let us create a space where you can be playful and joyous,’” said Rus Funk, the director of the Justice Center at All Peoples.

Fifteen-year-old Nevaeh Jones attended the block party with her mother, Jo Brandon-Jones.

“This is our first time having this experience as mother and daughter and it’s a beautiful experience,” said Brandon-Jones. “Everybody is great, everybody is smiling, we’re getting a lot of good information about mental health. To even know that this place exists is a gift from God, you know, that people can be safe and people can come together and celebrate their love and their life and their identity.”

Organizers hope to host more events like this throughout Louisville in the future.

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