60,000 AIDS Tests Happy Anniversary, Montrose Clinic! Has it been 20 years already? The history of our community health clinic is a history of our community’s coping with AIDS by Karen L. Morgan

The Montrose Clinic celebrates 20 years of pride and endurance this November. The modern, shiny exterior bears little resemblance to the clinic of old–affectionately referred to as the "Clap Clinic" in the days before the advent of AIDS–although the compassion, care, and concern there remain the same.

In 1978, the idea for the clinic was born at an historic Town Hall meeting for Houston’s gay and lesbian community, facilitated by Ray Hill. Initially opened for STD testing, primarily for gay men, the clinic doubled its expected patient volume from the beginning, developing a return clientele that was not anticipated. Operational costs averaged about $11 per patient; fees were on a donation basis. Almost totally run by volunteers, the clinic was supported by private donations. One of the first fundraisers, Zap Clap, was held in the club Numbers.

The clinic incorporated in 1981 under the leadership of their its full-time, compensated director, Thomas Aduette; two years later the clinic moved into a one-story rental on stilts at 104 Westheimer, catty-corner from its current location.

With the advent of AIDS testing in 1985, the atmosphere changed considerably. There was a pervasive fear in the air with hordes of people crowding the clinic every day to be tested. By this time the clinic had moved to 803 Hawthorne, referred to as Hawthorne House, the building that currently houses the Lesbian and Gay Community Center. Thin sheets separated the few exam "rooms," although privacy never felt more crucial. People were often fired from their jobs when they tested positive–particularly those working in health care. The people tested were given an anonymous number; every month the Montrose Mouth published the numbers of the people who had tested positive, along with an admonition to contact the clinic. (Now, to get results, people must make a follow-up visit for post-test counseling.) Sadly, everyone in the first group of volunteers trained to administer the test died within the first year and a half, and a whole new group had to be trained.

Upon Aduette’s death in 1988 from AIDS, Ralph Lasher took the reins as executive director. The clinic had moved again, this time to a squat "temporary" building at 1200 Richmond. "It was awful," Lasher says of that time period. "People were being diagnosed with HIV. It wasn’t unusual for them to die in a couple of weeks. People were absolutely terrified and with good reason."

It prompted him to come up with Next Step, a significant program still going on today. Next Step answers the question of what to do after testing positive, often including family members to help deal with the devastation to a spouse, parent, or significant other that a positive test result frequently brings.

Fortunately, the advent of AZT gave hope and the promise of a longer life span to those who tested positive. The clinic was still testing large numbers of people onsite, but it had also begun testing at bars, drug/alcohol treatment centers, churches, and bathhouses, reaching out to anyone who needed its help.

In 1989, the clinic began actively seeking a research program. Dr. Richard Grimes of the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston was instrumental in getting a program implemented, and the Houston Clinical Research Network was born. Dr. Grimes worked tirelessly on behalf of the Montrose Clinic and, by virtue of his standing and credibility in the medical community, was able to open doors more quickly, such as getting the clinic on the Ryan White Planning Council and into the AIDS Alliance.

"He is a straight man and, in my opinion, he is the person most responsible for the clinic being what it is today," says Lasher, who became assistant pastor at Resurrection MCC after he left the clinic in 1994. "He is an incredible person–for the encouragement he gave, the hours he gave, the credibility he gave the clinic."

In 1991, the clinic outgrew the Richmond location and was forced to move its administrative offices to another building. It also started a case management program to help people locate and take advantage of the new services being offered. By then, social services and psychological services were available for those with HIV, but people were often "shell-shocked" and needed direction. Case management helped people find their way through the quagmire of hospital agencies for what they needed to deal with their new reality.

Finally in 1992, the Montrose Clinic launched its Two Million Dollar Campaign to raise money for a new facility. It was able to purchase the Hollywood Hotel at 215 Westheimer for renovation, ironically a so-called no-tell motel notorious for male prostitution. People in the surrounding neighborhood were delighted.

"I can’t tell you what kind of junk we hauled out of there," Lasher says, laughing.

The building was renovated, and on February 11, 1995, the Montrose Clinic held the building’s dedication. It is still the clinic’s location.

Today the Montrose Clinic has moved light years away from those days of grief and uncertainty. It has a modern façade and displays no name on the building, still protecting the privacy of all who enter. It welcomes all, gay or straight. The clinic has grown and changed considerably, offering enhanced services such as prevention testing, education, and complementary therapies. Good examples are the advent of Primary Care, which includes the treatment of special needs such as dermatology and eye care, and the merger in January of 2001 with Body Positive. Body Positive is a three-month program that builds up the body to combat the wasting effects of the illness through nutritional counseling, workouts with a personal trainer, and massage therapy. The clinic also bears the distinction of being one of the first predominantly gay organizations to be funded by the United Way. The present-day clinic has a staff of about 70, and serves about 20,000 people a year, still with the help of many volunteers. Since the advent of AIDS testing, it has tested more than 60,000 people.

Katy Caldwell, the current executive director, when asked for her thoughts, says, "I remember the panic that we all felt when HIV/AIDS first began to take our friends and families away from us in the early ’80s. There were no experts, there was no place to go. The clinic was one of the first in Houston to provide for those affected by HIV, and it has grown and adapted to serve the changing needs of all persons living with HIV."

Happy 20th Anniversary, Montrose Clinic … and thank you for all you have done and all that you will continue to do in the future.

There will be an anniversary open house at the Montrose Clinic Thursday, November 8, 5:30—7 p.m. The clinic is located at 215 Westheimer and can be reached at 713/830-3000.

Karen Morgan is a freelance writer living in the Houston area with her children, her roommate, their dogs, and their bearded dragons.