The following is the transcript of a conversation with Antonio Elizondo, the Manager of Sexual and Reproductive Health at Howard Brown Health, about the history of the center and their work in the community.

You can learn more about Howard Brown Health on their website here.

Who is Howard Brown? How did they originate?

Howard Brown Health was founded in 1974 in Chicago by a small group of volunteer physicians to provide care and compassion at the onset of the AIDS epidemic. In 1976, the first board formed and named the clinic “Howard Brown Memorial Clinic” after Dr. Howard Brown, an Illinois native, founder of the National Gay Task Force (now the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force), and a former New York City Public Health Commissioner who helped change the image of gay men and lesbians in the United States by coming out publicly in 1973.

What is Howard Brown's mission & what do you guys do for the community?

Our mission is to eliminate the healthcare disparities experienced by the LGBTQ community. We have grown from those first years to a city-wide organization with multiple locations from Rogers Park to Englewood serving 35,000 adults and youth. We provide all kinds of services from primary medical care, social services, walk-in HIV and STI screening, and we recently adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide covid testing at no cost.

Does Howard Brown participate in any specific Pride month events?

We usually participate in the Pride parade but obviously that’s not happening this month. For the 2^nd year in a row, we have sponsored the Pride train on the CTA red line, with a campaign that celebrates our frontline staff for their hard work during the COVID-19 crisis.

Are their other locations for Howard Brown, if so where?

We have multiple locations in Chicago. Our neighborhoods include Uptown, Lakeview, Rogers Park, Englewood, Back of the Yards, Hyde Park, and Humboldt Park.

How has your involvement in the community changed over the years especially with new technology like social media?

I began my work in the community when I was 13 as a summer youth program participant at Mujeres Latinas en Accion, a community-based organization (CBO) in Pilsen Chicago. It was there that I created some of my first relationships with mentors who would shape the way I continue to participate in work efforts that directly benefit the community. Through my journey, I moved to connect with and be employed by other CBOs and through that work, I was able to see how advancements in technology are creating many modes of communication that allow persons to bond and share various experiences with others.

The advancements in social media have now created avenues for quick ways to share messaging with wide networks of people. Today we are seeing community program organizers utilize a variety of online platforms to communicate innovative ideas, plan events, and invite community members into unique created spaces. By connecting virtually there are benefits to seeing metrics on what community members are inclined to enjoy and participate in. We are able to see metrics like how many people are “in attendance” to live online discussions as well as attendance to events that occur physically in person. We are also seeing the outcomes of how communities interacting virtually can lead to the mobilization of people in physical spaces to receive resources, education, or entertainment that is catered to their interests and voices. Additionally, we are able to connect with community members virtually who are not physically able to attend events but very much want to participate. I implore all community organizations to take advantage of learning how to utilize online platforms and resources to connect with the clients they are trying to reach out to.

You can learn more about Howard Brown Health on their website here.

Are you a member or an ally of the LGBTQ+ community? We want to hear from you!

Send us any memories, stories, pictures, and videos of you, friends and family showing off and sharing your Pride!

Simply use #ShareYourPrideChicago and tag @cw26chicago on social media or email us at [email protected] until Friday, June 26. Submissions will be featured on our social media pages, on-air, online and on The Jam.