Celebrating LGBTQ History Month Year Round at Legacy Community Health

LGBTQ History Month invites us to celebrate the LGBTQ community and its story of courage and progress that’s still unfolding today. Held each October, LGBTQ History Month honors pivotal moments and figures in LGBTQ history, while also aligning with National Coming Out Day on October 11, a date that invites people to proudly and openly embrace their identity.

At Legacy Community Health, it’s also an opportunity to show our commitment to inclusivity and unwavering support for every member of this community and reaffirm our dedication to advancing healthcare equality for all.

Historical Roots of LGBTQ+ History Month

LGBTQ History Month began in 1994 when high school history teacher Rodney Wilson came out during a history lesson about the Nazi regime. Looking back at the thirty years since then, Wilson says, “Everyone is part of the historical narrative…. we need to be doing everything we can to make the world, to make our country, to make our communities, neighborhoods friendlier, warmer, more welcoming, more understanding.”

Over the decades, many powerful events fueled the momentum that drove change and inspired advocacy. The Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a rebellion in New York’s Greenwich Village neighborhood, galvanized the LGBTQ rights movement and united activists from across the country.

Less than ten years later, in June 1979, the first LGBTQ Pride parade in Houston took place in in response to a visit by anti-gay activist Anita Bryant. It sparked an annual celebration that has grown into one of the nation’s largest Pride events.

The month of October holds additional historic significance with two marches that took place in Washington D.C. – the first in 1979 and the second in 1987 – where advocates called for equal rights and protections under the law.

Years later, in 2015, LGBTQ rights saw a landmark victory when the U.S. Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage, sparking celebration across Texas and the entire nation.

Additional historical milestones were reached in 2021 when Dr. Rachel Levine became the first openly transgender presidential appointee to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary for Health, and Pete Buttigieg became the first openly gay U.S. Cabinet member when he was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Transportation by the Senate.

Each milestone serves as a reminder of the progress achieved and the importance of continued advocacy.

Legacy Community Health’s Role in Supporting Recognition of the LGBTQ+ Community

The Gulf Coast Area’s LGBTQ movement has been flourishing for decades, with Legacy Community Health consistently offering its support and care. Initially founded as the Montrose Clinic in 1978, it addressed the healthcare needs of Houston’s gay community, providing STD screening and treatment.

With the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Montrose Clinic launched PACE (Program for AIDS Counseling and Evaluation) in 1982, marking the first HIV antibody testing site in all of Texas. Here, patients could access confidential, compassionate care at a time when fear and stigma were widespread.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Montrose Clinic expanded its services to include the Body Positive Wellness Center, designed to empower individuals living with HIV/AIDS through education and support. In 2005 it merged with The Assistance Fund to form Legacy Community Health and broaden its ability to serve the LGBTQ community.

Legacy Community Health’s ongoing mission is to provide care without judgment, ensuring that every patient feels valued and respected. Through culturally competent care, its staff undergo continuous training to meet the unique health challenges faced by LGBTQ patients with understanding and compassion.

Legacy Community Health’s Full Spectrum of LGBTQ+ Healthcare Services

Legacy Community Health’s history is rooted in serving the LGBTQ community. From its initial beginnings as the Montrose Clinic, it has grown into a nationally recognized leader in LGBTQ healthcare. Its services address the unique needs of LGBTQ patients, from routine checkups to specialty care.

Some of the essential services Legacy provides:

• HIV/STD Screening and Prevention: Patients can choose between confidential or anonymous testing.
• HIV/AIDS Treatment: Patients can access primary health services and vision care. They can also receive case management support, financial support, medication adherence counseling, and participate in educational workshops.
• Vision Services: HIV-positive patients can get essential eye care at our Frost Eye Clinic.
• Social Services: Transgender patients can receive help in connecting with housing, employment, and school advocacy resources, as well as legal assistance.
• Body Positive Wellness Center: Patients can learn the best methods for working out and building muscles through the wellness center’s educational resources.

Legacy Community Health’s history, founded on the values of dignity and inclusivity, is a testament to our unwavering support for the LGBTQ community. We are proud to serve as a trusted health partner. To schedule an appointment with us or ask any questions, please visit us online or call (832) 548-5000.