ACA / SAIGE Pride Webinar

Speaking in Support of LGBTQ+ People through Advocacy and Allyship

The wave of recent legislation in many states targeting marginalized communities-including increased focus on enacting laws that prohibit people in the LGBTQ+ community from living freely and access to equitable rights and access to healthcare-has raised concerns and calls to action among ACA members and others within the mental health community.

This event aims to provide clarity around what legislation is being passed, the negative impacts and implications for LGBTQ+ people, and the ways counselors can advocate and continue to serve all clients to the best of their ability, within the confines of new laws.

Presenters

Gene Dockery

Gene Dockery (they/them) is a Ph.D. candidate in counselor education and supervision at Ohio University. Their research and clinical practice focus on trans & queer liberation, advocacy, and disability justice. Gene is the SAIGE Public Policy Committee Chairperson, the SAIGE Ohio Southeast Representative, and a CSJ Counselor Education & Supervision Taskforce member.

Dominique Marsalek (she/her) is currently State Government Affairs Manager for the American Counseling Association (ACA) and Gubernatorial Appointee to the Board of Trustee’s for the Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia (FACT). Previously, Dominique served as Federal and State Policy Deputy for Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA). During this time, she focused on the intersections of public health and child welfare law, including landmark legislation such as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and the Families First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). Prior to these positions, Dominique had the honor of serving as the Legislative and Community Affairs Advisor for the Government of the District of Columbia's Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), and as Chief of Staff for The Honorable Senator Ronald Young (MD-3). As a foster care alumnus and a first-generation college graduate with over 17 years of experience in public policy and leadership, Dominique aims to cultivate positive social policy that betters communities, empowers families, and strengthens public health systems.

Leo Khan Snyder

Valeo “Leo” Khan-Snyder (he/him) is an openly queer and transgender clinical mental health counselor and is the current Legislative and Public Policy Committee Chair and President Elect-Elect for the American Counseling Association of Iowa and a SAIGE Public Policy Committee member. Throughout his professional career, he has developed a passion for working with marginalized populations, particularly serving LGBTQIA+ clients in rural communities. Valeo has been passionate about developing a strong social justice advocacy presence at the state and national level. His primary advocacy focuses include providing education, writing position statements, and building coalitions and advocacy-centered communities

ACA / SAIGE Pride Webinar

Speaking in Support of LGBTQ+ People through Advocacy and Allyship

Presenters

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