World AIDS Day: Legacy Community Health Calls Houston to Remember, Unite, and Act

Houston, TX (November 13, 2025) — Every year, World AIDS Day reminds us that the fight against HIV is not over. To honor those we’ve lost, celebrate those living with HIV, and renew our shared commitment to ending the epidemic, Legacy Community Health, in partnership with the Houston Health Department, Harris County Public Health, The T.R.U.T.H. Project, The Links, Incorporated – Missouri City Chapter, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, and Allies in Hope, will host the annual World AIDS Day Observance on Monday, December 1, 2025, at The DeLUXE Theater, 3303 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX 77020.

This year’s FREE event brings together community members, advocates, and health professionals to reflect on the progress made, support those living with HIV, and reaffirm a shared commitment to ending the epidemic.

“World AIDS Day is a time to honor lives lost, uplift those living with HIV, and renew our resolve to create a future free of stigma and discrimination,” said Robert Palussek, CEO of Legacy Community Health. “Legacy was founded in this fight more than 40 years ago, and we continue that mission every day by expanding access to care and standing with our community in hope and solidarity.”

Event Details

• WHAT: World AIDS Day Observance and Candlelight Vigil
• WHEN: Monday, December 1, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
• WHERE: The DeLUXE Theater, 3303 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX 77020
• WHO: Hosted by Legacy Community Health, in partnership with the Houston Health Department, Harris County Public Health, The T.R.U.T.H. Project, The Links, Incorporated – Missouri City Chapter, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, and Allies in Hope

Program Highlights:

• Hosted by Ernie Manouse
• Opening reception and remembrance
• Spoken word performances
• Remarks by Legacy Community Health CEO Robert Palussek, Houston Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Tran, and Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum (District K)
• Panel discussion featuring local HIV experts and community leaders
  • Moderator:
    • Richon Ohafia, MPH; Director, Ryan White Office of Support Harris County Public Health
  • Panelists:
    • Joelle Espeut, Program Director, The Normal Anomaly Initiative
    • Marlene McNeese, Deputy Assistant Director, Houston Health Department
    • Wanda Mott, MD; VP, Missouri City Chapter of The Links Incorporated; OB/GYN, Texas Children’s Hospital
    • Ray Purser; VP of Government Relations and Public Affairs, Legacy Community Health
  • Closing candlelight vigil
  • Free HIV testing by AmistadesHTX by Legacy and light refreshments

To RSVP, visit: www.legacycommunityhealth.org/worldaidsday

Legacy’s Commitment to Ending the Epidemic

Legacy Community Health’s history is deeply rooted in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Founded in 1978 as the Montrose Clinic, Legacy began providing HIV testing and treatment in the early 1980s—long before many health systems recognized the scale of the epidemic. Over the past four decades, Legacy has grown to become the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Texas, but its mission to provide compassionate, stigma-free care for people living with HIV/AIDS remains at its core.

Today, Legacy offers free and confidential HIV testing, PrEP and PEP access, long-acting injectable treatments, and culturally affirming programs that empower the communities most affected by the disease. Legacy’s comprehensive approach includes medical care, counseling, and support services that promote prevention, education, and connection to care.

One example of this commitment is AmistadesHTX, a Legacy program designed to empower Houston’s Latino/a/x community through education, prevention, and inclusion. AmistadesHTX provides free HIV testing, linkage to PrEP, and community-building initiatives such as the Café con Leche discussion group and the Como Soy / As I Am storytelling campaign. These initiatives open culturally-sensitive conversations around sexual health, mental well-being, and stigma reduction.

Through efforts like AmistadesHTX and Legacy’s extensive network of community partnerships, thousands of Houstonians each year receive the care, resources, and encouragement they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

A Call to Awareness and Action

Recent data show that Houston-area HIV and STI rates are on the rise. These numbers underscore the urgent need for accessible, affordable, and judgment-free care. Legacy’s ongoing mission—to connect our communities to health every day, in every way—remains vital in combating the growing public health challenge.

This World AIDS Day, Legacy calls on the Houston community to join in reflection, solidarity, and renewed commitment to health equity. Together, we can honor the past, uplift the present, and shape a healthier future.

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About Legacy Community Health

Legacy Community Health is a full-service health care system comprised of 63 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.