Press Release

Legacy Community Health Expands Free HIV Testing Access in Houston at Black Like That Festival

Posted on by Sandra Fernandez
Black Like That Festival graphic with Legacy Community Health promoting free HIV testing in Houston.
18
Jun

HOUSTON, TX (June 18, 2026) – As HIV rates continue to rise in Houston and Harris County, Legacy Community Health is expanding access to free HIV testing in Houston by joining Black Like That, a community festival hosted by The Normal Anomaly Initiative in partnership with Pride Houston 365. The event takes place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Ironworks and coincides with National HIV Testing Day, bringing together celebration and public health action.

Event Details:

  • WHAT: Black Like That Community Festival
  • DATE: Saturday, June 27, 2026
  • TIME: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • LOCATION: The Hall at Ironworks, 711 Milby St, Houston, TX 77023
  • TICKETS: Available at https://www.normalanomaly.org/blacklikethat/

Attendees can enjoy live performances, music, and local vendors. The festival brings together culture, community, and access to services like free HIV testing in Houston.

Free HIV Testing in a Trusted Community Space

Legacy will provide free, fast, and confidential HIV testing onsite.

  • Results available in 60 seconds.
  • Testing conducted in a private, confidential space.
  • One-on-one support from trained Health Navigation specialists.
  • Each person will have time to ask questions and talk through next steps.

HIV testing is the only way to know your status and is the first step in prevention and treatment.

“Access to HIV testing should never be a barrier,” said Jill Jahns, Health Navigation Director at Legacy Community Health. “Black Like That allows us to meet people where they are in a space that feels safe and welcoming. Knowing your status is the first step. No matter the result, we are here to support you and help you move forward with confidence.”

Legacy’s team will provide support beyond the test itself.

  • Personalized prevention guidance
  • Linkage to care as soon as the next business day
  • Ongoing navigation and follow-up

Rooted in the Fight Against HIV

Legacy’s work in HIV care began more than 40 years ago. The organization started as the Montrose Clinic during the AIDS crisis and quickly became a trusted provider of HIV testing and treatment.

That mission continues today. Legacy serves thousands of patients living with HIV and offers care that goes beyond testing. Services include prevention, treatment, and long-term support designed to meet physical, behavioral, and social health needs.

Legacy Community Health is one of the largest providers of HIV care in Houston. Legacy believes health is more than a single visit. It is ongoing, connected, and community-based.

Addressing HIV in Houston

HIV remains a serious and growing public health issue in Houston and Harris County.

  • HIV rates are increasing, with faster growth in Houston than other parts of Texas
  • More than 32,000 people in the Greater Houston area are living with HIV
  • About 1 in 73 Houstonians is living with HIV
  • Many people do not know their status
  • Black communities are disproportionately impacted

The CDC recommends routine HIV testing for everyone, regardless of age, background, or perceived risk.

Testing is the most important first step. Early diagnosis connects people to care sooner and improves long-term health outcomes. With the right treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives. Prevention tools like PrEP can significantly reduce the risk of transmission.

Get Tested

In recognition of National HIV Testing Day, Legacy Community Health encourages everyone to get tested.

Legacy offers free HIV testing, HIV prevention services, and HIV treatment in Houston and surrounding communities.

Get tested. Know your status. Take control of your health.

To learn more about HIV testing, prevention, or care, or to find a location near you, visit www.LCH.orgGetTested.

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About Legacy Community Health

Legacy Community Health is a full-service health care system comprised of 60+ locations in the Texas Gulf Coast region offering primary and specialty care, as well as pharmacy services. For over 40 years, Legacy has been innovating the ways we provide comprehensive, quality health care services to individuals, families, and communities in need. As the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas and a United Way-affiliated agency since 1990, Legacy ensures its services and programs are open to all, regardless of the ability to pay—without judgment or exception. To learn more, visit www.legacycommunityhealth.org.