HIV – ENTRE HERMANOS

‘Looking Toward the Next 50 Years of Pride’ Featuring Our Executive Director, Edgar Longoria

Posted on March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 by Matthew Bromley

by Seattle Pride Magazine on March 1, 2025

We are beyond honored to have our Executive Director, Edgar Longoria, featured in Seattle Pride Magazine’s latest issue! In the article “Looking Toward the Next 50 Years of Pride,” Edgar joins influential voices such as Laurie Jinkins (Speaker of the House, WA State House of Representatives), Mattie Mooney(Co-founder of Taking B(l)ack Pride), Rosette Royale (Managing Editor of South Seattle Emerald), and Jamie Pedersen WA State Senate Majority Leader, to discuss the future of Pride and our LGBTQ+ community.

As the first Latine LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization in Washington, Entre Hermanos is proud to be part of this critical conversation about the future of our movement and the fight for equity, dignity, and visibility.

Original publication in Seattle Pride Magazine Spring 2025 Edition.

Last year marked a significant milestone in Seattle’s queer history as it honored the 50th anniversary of LGBTQIA2S+ Pride celebrations in Seattle. Now entering its 51st year, Seattle Pride asked local LGBTQIA2S+ leaders their hopes for the next 50 years.

How can the LGBTQIA2S+ community as a whole more fully embrace intersectionality and uplift BIPOC, disabled, and economically marginalized voices?

Edgar Longoria: “To fully embrace intersectionality, the LGBTQIA2S+ community must not only acknowledge but actively center the voices of those who experience multiple layers of marginalization. This includes recognizing the specific challenges faced by immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, trans, and living with HIV. For these individuals, every aspect of their identity adds a layer of vulnerability—whether it’s being at risk for deportation, being denied gender-affirming care, or facing stigma in healthcare settings because of their HIV status.

The community must prioritize providing accessible, culturally competent services that meet the needs of people at these intersections. Creating safe spaces where individuals don’t have to fear being “outed” or having their immigration status questioned is key to building trust and solidarity in these marginalized groups.

Additionally, we need to ensure that leadership positions within the LGBTQIA2S+ movement reflect the full diversity of our community, including those most affected by systemic oppression. It’s not just about inclusion in conversation but about tangible, equitable access to resources, representation, and decision-making power for Latine trans and immigrant LGBTQIA2S+ people.”

What are the most pressing issues currently facing LGBTQIA2S+ communities in Washington?

Edgar Longoria: “The fear of deportation is a massive barrier that keeps many from accessing critical services, including healthcare, mental health support, and social services. Many undocumented trans individuals hesitate to seek help due to the fear that their immigration status will be reported, leaving them without the support they desperately need.

Transphobia is another significant issue. Trans individuals — particularly those who are undocumented — face systemic discrimination both within the LGBTQIA2S+ community and the larger society. This can result in high rates of violence, homelessness, and unemployment, as well as limited access to healthcare that is culturally competent or gender-affirming. All of these issues are compounded by the economic hardships faced by many immigrant families, leading to a cycle of poverty that is incredibly difficult to break.”

What initiatives or changes would you like to see in health resources for the LGBTQIA2S+ community?

Edgar Longoria: “Health resources need to be radically more inclusive, accessible, and culturally competent. Latine individuals account for approximately 27% of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., despite being only 19% of the population (Center for Disease Control). Expanding access to PrEP, bilingual services, and community-led health initiatives is essential for prevention and care. To better serve this community, healthcare providers need to be trained on the intersectionality of these identities.

Mental health services must also be expanded, particularly services that address the compounded trauma of migration, transphobia, racism, and HIV stigma. Creating safe spaces for undocumented, trans, and HIV+ individuals within healthcare settings is crucial to overcoming the deep mistrust many of these individuals have in institutions that have historically failed them.”

What legacy do you hope today’s LGBTQIA2S+ leaders will leave for future generations? What legacy do you hope to leave as a queer leader?

Edgar Longoria: “I hope today’s LGBTQIA2S+ leaders leave a legacy of truly inclusive activism that centers the voices and experiences of the most marginalized. The legacy I hope we leave is one where these individuals are no longer forced to fight for the basics: access to healthcare, safety, legal protections, and economic opportunities. I want future generations to inherit a community that does not just acknowledge but celebrates the complexity of their identities, ensuring that every person is seen and supported in all their intersections.

As a queer leader, I hope my legacy will be one of advocacy for the most vulnerable, helping to ensure that future leaders don’t just fight for policy change but also actively dismantle the systems of oppression that affect the most marginalized. I want to be remembered for amplifying the voices of Latine trans individuals, undocumented immigrants, and HIV+ people, and for contributing to a world where they can live without fear, fully and unapologetically, as their authentic selves.”

A huge thank you to the Seattle Pride team for this opportunity! We are excited for what’s ahead, including all the incredible projects we will share at Seattle Pride 2025!

Read the full interview here: https://seattlepride.org/news/looking-toward-the-next-50-years-of-pride

Entre Hermanos Official Statement: Stop Inhumane Immigration Policies!

Posted on February 27, 2025March 14, 2025 by Matthew Bromley

[Español a continuación/Spanish below]

At Entre Hermanos, the first Latinx LGBTQ+ organization in the state of Washington, we raise our voices to denounce the cruel and unacceptable immigration practices implemented by the United States Federal Government. The recent decision to send migrants to Costa Rica and Panama as ‘bridge countries’ while their deportations are processed is a flagrant violation of human rights.

A few weeks ago, the U.S. government reached an agreement with the government of Costa Rica to transfer 200 migrants to that country, intending to use it as a transit point before deporting them to their countries of origin. This process has already been carried out with the dispatch of two planes, transporting a total of 200 people, including 81 children. Likewise, migrants sent to Panama face alarming and extremely vulnerable conditions.

The countries of origin of these individuals include Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ghana, Jordan, China, Russia, India, Congo, Nepal, Yemen, Vietnam, and Georgia. All of them have cited economic, political, or armed conflict-related reasons for fleeing their countries. None of the individuals in the first deported group have criminal records. However, through these actions, they are being denied the right to seek asylum in the United States and are subjected to inhumane conditions in third countries.

Migrants are being forced to remain in these countries without security guarantees, without the right to free movement, and without access to legal representation. The facilities where they are held effectively function as prisons, criminalizing those who are merely seeking to survive.

This situation is even more critical for those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Many of these individuals flee precisely because of persecution in their countries of origin, where their lives are in danger due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. However, the ‘bridge countries’ to which they are being sent offer no guarantees of safety, as they have a history of discrimination and systematic violence against our community. This deportation policy is not only cruel but also puts the lives of LGBTQ+ migrants at direct risk.

We are deeply alarmed by the fate of the 81 children deported to Costa Rica. There is no clear information regarding the guarantee of their fundamental rights, including education, healthcare, and protections in the event they are unaccompanied minors. Additionally, the conditions in which people sent to Panama find themselves are extremely concerning, with reports of isolation, lack of medical attention, and arbitrary detention in remote areas such as the Darién jungle.

Entre Hermanos demands:

Immediate cessation of deportations to ‘bridge countries.’
Absolute respect for the right to asylum and the guarantee of due process for every migrant.
Protection of the human rights of all LGBTQ+ individuals and the migrant community as a whole.
Transparency regarding the whereabouts and conditions of the children deported to Costa Rica and Panama.

We urgently call on the international community, human rights organizations, and civil society not to remain silent in the face of these systematic violations. We cannot stand silently in the face of policies that continue to criminalize migration and endanger the lives of the most LGBTQ+ individuals.

Stop inhumane deportations! Stop putting our communities’ lives at risk!

Entre Hermanos is and will be fighting for the dignity, rights, and justice of our Latine LGBTQ+ and migrant community.

Entre Hermanos Comunicado Oficial: ¡Basta de Políticas Migratorias Inhumanas!

Desde Entre Hermanos, la primera organización latine LGBTQ+ del estado de Washington, alzamos nuestra voz para denunciar las prácticas migratorias crueles e inaceptables implementadas por el Gobierno Federal de los Estados Unidos. La reciente decisión de enviar personas migrantes a Costa Rica y Panamá como ‘países puente’ mientras se procesan sus deportaciones es una flagrante violación de los derechos humanos.

Hace unas semanas, el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos acordó con el Gobierno de Costa Rica el traslado de 200 personas migrantes a ese país, con el propósito de utilizarlo como punto de tránsito antes de ser deportadas a sus países de origen. Este proceso ya se ha materializado con el envío de dos aviones, transportando a un total de 200 personas, incluidos 81 niños y niñas. De igual manera, las personas migrantes enviadas a Panamá enfrentan condiciones alarmantes y de extrema vulnerabilidad.

Los países de origen de estas personas incluyen Uzbekistán, Afganistán, Irán, Armenia, Turquía, Azerbaiyán, Ghana, Jordania, China, Rusia, India, Congo, Nepal, Yemen, Vietnam y Georgia. Todas ellas han argumentado razones económicas, políticas o conflictos armados como motivos para huir de sus países. Ninguna de las personas del primer grupo deportado posee antecedentes criminales. Sin embargo, con estas acciones, se les niega el derecho a solicitar asilo en los Estados Unidos y se les somete a condiciones inhumanas en terceros países.

Las personas migrantes están siendo forzadas a permanecer en estos países sin garantías de seguridad, sin derecho a la libre circulación y sin acceso a representación legal. Los centros donde son retenidas funcionan, en la práctica, como cárceles, criminalizando a quienes solo buscan sobrevivir.

Esta situación es aún más crítica para quienes forman parte de la comunidad LGBTQ+. Muchas de estas personas huyen precisamente de la persecución en sus países de origen, donde sus vidas corren peligro debido a su orientación sexual o identidad de género. Sin embargo, los ‘países puente’ a los que están siendo enviadas tampoco garantizan su seguridad, ya que cuentan con antecedentes de discriminación y violencia sistemática contra nuestra comunidad. Esta política de deportación no solo es cruel, sino que también pone en riesgo directo la vida de personas LGBTQ+ migrantes.

Nos alarma profundamente el destino de los 81 niños deportados a Costa Rica. No existe información clara sobre la garantía de sus derechos fundamentales, incluyendo educación, acceso a la salud y protección en caso de ser menores no acompañados. Además, las condiciones en las que se encuentran las personas enviadas a Panamá son extremadamente preocupantes, con reportes de aislamiento, falta de atención médica y detención arbitraria en áreas remotas como la selva del Darién.

Desde Entre Hermanos exigimos:

El cese inmediato de las deportaciones a ‘países puente’.
El respeto absoluto al derecho de asilo y la garantía de un debido proceso para cada persona migrante.
La protección de los derechos humanos de todas las personas LGBTQ+ y de la comunidad migrante en general.
Transparencia sobre el paradero y las condiciones de los niños migrantes enviados a Costa Rica y Panamá.

Hacemos un llamado urgente a la comunidad internacional, a organizaciones de derechos humanos y a la sociedad civil para que no permanezcan en silencio ante estas violaciones sistemáticas. No podemos permitir que se sigan implementando políticas que criminalizan la migración y ponen en riesgo la vida de las personas más vulnerables.

¡Basta de deportaciones inhumanas! ¡Basta de poner en riesgo la vida de nuestras comunidades!

En Entre Hermanos seguimos y seguiremos luchamos por la dignidad,
los derechos y la justicia para nuestra comunidad LGBTQ+ latine y migrante.

BILINGUAL MEDICAL CASE MANAGER – SEATTLE OFFICE

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Matthew Bromley

ENTRE HERMANOS MISSION: to promote the health and well-being of the Latino Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and questioning community in a culturally appropriate environment through disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy and community building.

Title: HIV Prevention and Community Engagement Coordinator (English/Spanish)
Program: HIV/AIDS Prevention/Education for Latino MSM
Position type: Full time
Salary: $51.000,00 / $55,000.00 annually, depending on experience
Location: Seattle, Washington

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Bilingual Medical Case Manager assists primarily medium to high acuity individuals living with HIV in accessing and engaging in psychosocial, medical, homecare, and supportive services. This position conducts comprehensive assessments, develops, and updates service plans, and facilitates the acquisition of all appropriate services. This is a full-time, non-exempt, regular position.

Essential Duties:

Client Services: Develops, implements, and revises service plans on an ongoing basis. Links clients to, and serves as liaison to, public and private services. Assists clients with acquiring and maintaining continued coverage of public assistance, insurance, and other entitlements.
Program Responsibilities: Maintains and updates client records and notes, including client tracking; carries out required information reporting; prepares progress notes and other client documentation according to departmental standards. Collaborates with other community organizations, as well as mental health and chemical dependency programs. Develops knowledge of appropriate referrals for home care services, mental health services, chemical dependency, financial aid, housing, food, emotional support, etc.
Organizational Responsibilities: Builds awareness and understanding of HIV. Assists periodically with walk-in client needs, front desk coverage, and group facilitation. Works with staff and clients of diverse socio-economic, ethnic, lifestyle, and sexual orientation backgrounds while building relationships among internal departments. Maintains strict professional boundaries and confidentiality.

Core Competencies:

Familiarity with individuals who experience health disparities, including complex chronic health conditions, behavioral health barriers, chemical dependency, poverty, and stigma-induced isolation.
Comfort with working with individuals along the entire continuum of diversity, including but not limited to varying abilities, race, class, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Proven comfort with Spanish language in order to optimally serve Spanish-speaking community members.
Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines in a time-sensitive environment.
Excellent detail orientation with a high level of accuracy.
Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability.
Proven clear understanding of professional boundaries.
Demonstrated skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of applications, including Excel and Word.
Experience working in electronic case noting within a data base and electronic document collection and storage.
Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in both verbal and written form.
Well-developed professional phone skills.
Proven ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.
Ability to respond quickly to change.
Well-developed ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external providers and partner agencies.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively under stressful conditions, exercising crisis management and de-escalation skills.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in related field, Master’s degree in a social service field desirable.
At least ONE year of professional experience, including employment or practicum experience related to advocacy services, case management, or similar work with the public in a direct service setting.
Fluency in Spanish required.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Range: $51,000.00 / $55,000.00 annually, depending on experience.
Note – Entre Hermanos maintains a competitive compensation package; within budget constraints, you will be eligible for performance-based raises on an annual basis.
Medical and Dental Insurance
403b Retirement Account

Details:

Department: Care
Tax Class / FSLA Status: 40 hours per week, full benefits, non-exempt
Supervisor: Care and Prevention Program Manager
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Regular Schedule: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Entre Hermano’s Seattle office: 1621 S Jackson St #202, Seattle, WA 98144

TO APPLY

Candidates please send an email with your resume and cover letter to: Jose.Vazquez@EntreHermanos.org

Physical Demands / Working Conditions
The employee must be able to operate a computer and other office equipment, speak and listen on the telephone, and accurately see and interpret columns of numbers.
This position description generally describes the principle functions of the position and the level of knowledge and skills typically required. It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Entre Hermanos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications are considered without regard to race, age, sex, color, creed, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, mental or physical handicap, sexual orientation (heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and gender expression of identity) or any other classification protected by law.

HIV / STI SPECIALIST I – YAKIMA OFFICE

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Matthew Bromley

Title: HIV Prevention and Community Engagement Coordinator (English/Spanish)
Program: HIV/AIDS Prevention/Education for Latino MSM
Position type: Full time
Salary: $50.024,00 annually
Location: Yakima, Washington

JOB DESCRIPTION

This position supports our community-level intervention program targeting Latino Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. The program employs a variety of strategies to influence reduction of risky, unsafe sexual behaviors among Latino MSM.
The program includes community outreach, educational workshops and forums, and referrals to influence counseling and testing. Also, maintaining records of participants in our workshops. May also design and produce graphic materials to support outreach work on social media.

This position requires one-on-one contact with high risk individuals in areas of Yakima, Lewis, Skamania, Kittitas, Klickitat, Grant and Benton Counties where Latino MSM live, socialize and gain access to other social service support.

The main purpose of community outreach and peer education is to:

Encourage those at high risk to get tested and learn their HIV status
Perform HIV/ STI, HCV tests
Promote PrEP
Promote proper condom use
Promote prevention strategies as determined by Entre Hermanos and public Health
Promote participation in Entre Hermanos forums, support groups and workshops

QUALIFICATIONS

Fluent in Spanish and English (Written and verbal)
Experience working with the Latino community
Enjoy public speaking and have the ability to meet new people
Ability to be self-motivated and work independently
Weekday office time, along with evenings and weekend work
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
Ability to meet deadlines, schedule and keep appointments
High school education or equivalent
Ability to use social media platforms (i.e., Facebook and Twitter) to disseminate HIV prevention messages and promote services

Desirable:

Experience working the Latino LGBTQ community.
Experience in community outreach and/or peer education.
Familiar with the best places to contact the target population.
Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Excel.
Experience using Constant Contact and graphic design software.
Phlebotomy license (if not, we will provide the training and sponsor the license)

RESPONIBILITIES

Assist with group and community presentations as needed
Recruit participants for activities, presentations & workshops
Conduct education and prevention workshops
Maintain accurate records and data for program evaluation and reports
Attend staff meetings as requested
Assist in developing outreach tools and educational materials
Promote END HIV/AIDS Washington an national campaign on social media platforms to disseminate HIV prevention messages and promote services
Complete project reports as directed by the Executive Director

Nondiscrimination Policy

We strongly encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities, especially the LGBTQ and Latino communities, to apply. Entre Hermanos does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior contact with the criminal justice system, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Candidates for employment at Entre Hermanos should be aware that this is a unique work environment in which topics of sexuality and sexual orientation are an integral part of our everyday prevention and care work and are often discussed openly. Individuals who are uncomfortable with such topics, discussions and occasional related graphic representations may choose not to work at Entre Hermanos.

TO APPLY

Candidates please send an email with your resume and cover letter to: Martha@entrehermanos.org

This position description generally describes the principal functions of the position and the level of knowledge and skills typically required. It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.
Entre Hermanos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications are considered without regard to race, age, sex, color, creed, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, mental or physical handicap, sexual orientation (heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression of identity) or any other classification protected by law.

Community Corner—Entre Hermanos

Posted on September 19, 2024September 26, 2024 by Matthew Bromley

by Seattle Human Services on September 3, 2024

Community Corner highlights the work of Seattle Human Services’ community partners in their own words. Our goal is to gather stories and photos that illustrate their amazing work on behalf of the people of Seattle. This post highlights Entre Hermanos.

*Entre Hermanos team during our Annual Pride Picnic in the Park.*

What is the role your organization fulfills in your community?

Entre Hermanos is a “by and for” community-based organization that offers Latine cultural and health services to the LGBTQ+ community in a space that is affirming, safe, and supportive. We improve health and well-being for the Latine LGBTQ+ community through wraparound support services, legal immigration consultation and representation, support for prevention of HIV and care for those living with HIV, media outreach on Latine and LGBTQ+ issues, education and advocacy for human rights and civic engagement, and community building and cultural celebration.

Every year we reach more than 7,000 people in the greater Seattle community, including 1,000 who receive direct medical and non-medical higher-touch interventions through STD testing, PrEP navigation, and HIV medical case management; and 6,000 through light-touch outreach and education via radio and social media, LGBTQ+, Cultural, and Health fairs, and condom distribution. Our services are free of charge, without regard to immigration status or insurance coverage, and all activities are conducted in Spanish and Central American indigenous languages.

How does your partnership with Seattle Human Services (HSD) assist you in that role?

Entre Hermanos is grateful for a supportive community, talented and committed staff, and the support of health champions like HSD. As an organization, we are dedicated to ensuring that our clients’ holistic and intersecting needs can be met, and HSD has helped us do this through funding our projects like Arts in the Park, Health and Education campaigns, and more. We’ve also benefitted from the partnership through increasing our connections to the City’s leadership, especially through our involvement in LGBTQ+ initiatives.

What is your organization’s origin story?

We were created by a group of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Latinos/as who were responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Washington state in 1990. Our founders sought to address the need for social, educational, and health support services with programs deeply connected to our language and cultural roots, surrounded by the warmth, love, and care of our LGBTQ+ siblings being affected by HIV/AIDS. While we started as an organization that serves people with HIV, we now attend to the many ways our clients are vulnerable while remaining true to our mission to promote the health and well-being of the Latine LGBTQ+ community. For more than three decades, we have honored that legacy by continuing to raise HIV awareness, provide sexual health education, and basic needs support to our people while providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services for clients who face complex marginalization due to their immigration and documentation status, sexuality, poverty, or gender.

How has your organization grown or developed in recent years?

In our 33rd year of service, Entre Hermanos continues marching into the future, on the road to justice, striving for progress, and expanding our support services to sexually diverse Latinx individuals in Washington. In recent years, we’ve added new programs like housing assistance for clients on PrEP, legal representation focused on transgender asylum seekers, and trans peer navigation. Our programs have had a lot of support within the city of Seattle, and we’re excited to announce that in the next year we are replicating this program model and opening an office in rural Yakima. Many Hispanic/Latinx people live in rural Yakima, but members of the LGBTQ+ community in that area have little access to culturally and linguistically sensitive services that are LGBTQ+ affirming. Since 2019, we have grown from eight staff members to 29 staff members, and there is still a great need to increase our services.

*Entre Hermanos employees: Elio, Yesenia, Alejandra, and Alec during LatinX Pride 2024 outreach*.

Why is it important for HSD and City of Seattle taxpayers to invest in community-led work?

Being led by members of the immigrant Latine LGBTQ+ community means we have the in-house Spanish-language, cultural competency, and expertise in LGBTQ issues that equips us to meet the overlapping needs of clients who are new immigrants, Spanish-speakers, and individuals who are undocumented, uninsured, and transgender. We have seen many situations where clients come to us and finally feel safe enough to be themselves fully, share their needs and accept help. Having HSD and City of Seattle taxpayers invest in community-led work like this is critical to decreasing communication barriers, providing a sense of safety for marginalized communities, and truly meeting people’s holistic and intersecting needs. Organizations like ours are community assets that create a more vibrant and healthy community for all.

How do your programs and services help to reduce the disparities experienced by people of color living in our region?

There are troubling racial and ethnic disparities in access to healthcare. In our region, Latine have an uninsurance rate three and a half times the average and they are more than twice as likely to not see a doctor because of cost. Language and cultural barriers also affect access to HIV prevention and care with new HIV diagnoses in the King County Latine population disproportionately affecting people born outside of the US. Health inequities are also significant among the LGBTQ+ community. Men who have sex with men accounted for 68 percent of new HIV cases in King County in 2020 and the risk of acquiring HIV is 25 times higher among men who have sex with men than the general population.

Similar disparities exist in legal systems with LGBTQ+ migrants particularly vulnerable to discrimination and violence. We know from our own experience what it is like to navigate foreign health, legal, or social systems with barriers such as language, sexuality, race, gender, and socio-economic and educational attainment. Many of our clients are immigrants with dreams and visions of a stable and safe future. Our wraparound services in housing, immigration law, outreach and navigation services, and support groups help them attain safety during the most critical period in their lives, reducing disparities and contributing to a region where everyone has an opportunity to live in the fullness of community.

Tell us an example of how a City-funded program or service impacted the life of one of your community members?

One of the things we enjoy most is the opportunity to gather our community in open spaces. In past years, Arts in the Park funding has allowed us to host cultural, art, community, and healing gatherings focused on our connection to each other. From hosting a traditional ‘carne asada’ with music and sunshine to hosting Entre Hermanos’ 9^th Annual Pride Picnic or a movie screening in the park; we are grateful for the opportunities to be in community unburdened and in celebration during these events.

And while we gather community, we take the opportunity to share our stories of resilience and organizational opportunities. Arts in the Park-funded Entre Hermanos events have served as an introduction to Entre Hermanos for many newcomers to the area. One such story is from a person named Amerik. Amerik attended one of our events and soon after began volunteering with Entre Hermanos. Their passion for culture, trans lives, and community, saw them go from a client/volunteer to a staff member in 2022.

As Amerik continues to grow as a social services professional, helping others navigate systems, they carry forward the legacy of Entre Hermanos, and continue building safety and stability in their own life. It is a beautiful journey to witness and that is the impact we want to achieve.

*Entre Hermanos employees: Amerike, Macarena, Rafael and Emilio during a community outreach event.*

What motivates your staff or keeps you going?

We are proud of our own collective intersectionality experience, which makes us look for ways to serve those who are excluded in other contexts, and love working within our culture to serve those who have been pushed aside due to language, sexuality, race, or gender. We know how important a sense of safety is to our clients because we’ve faced the same challenges, and every day we strive to cultivate a transformative and gracious space where people can live their most authentic and empowering identities. We are proud of each of our wins and proud to help provide those in our communities with support to enable them to better navigate complex healthcare, housing, and immigration systems on their own terms.

Entre Hermanos 33 Years Into the Future

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Matthew Bromley

An article from WA Department of Health Newsletter

DOH 150-158 February 2024
HCS Newsletter

We want the community to learn about the wonderful work Entre Hermanos does for the LGBTQ+ Latino Community in Washington State. So we asked Entre Hermanos Executive Director, Edgar Longoria, to help us achieve this by answering a series of questions to clearly define the importance of this organizations role in providing community services.
Who is Entre Hermanos and for how long has it served the community?
We are an organization with roots in the community. Everything we do is community-based and we do it in ways that are culturally affirming, safe, and supportive. We were created to respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Washington State in the early 1990’s. Our founders wanted to support members of the LGBTQ+ Latino community regardless of their immigration status.

For over 33 years we have honored that legacy by promoting health and well-being for the Latinx LGBTQ+ community. The work we do is rooted in love, care, and support.

Who are your clients?
We serve sexually diverse Latinx people, including transgender immigrants. Most of our clients reside or work in King County and surrounding areas, but we also see clients from Central or Eastern Washington. Clients that come from afar are drawn by a need for our integrated services in health, housing, and immigration.

What services does Entre Hermanos provide?
We provide testing services for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. We also provide HIV medical case management and help remove barriers to transportation and other essential needs. We offer preventive services such as PrEP navigation and condom distribution. We do light-touch outreach and education
via radio and social media. We have
wrap-around services in housing and immigration law. Every year we reach over 7,000 people in our community. Our services are free of charge in Spanish and indigenous languages from Central America. Our staff speak the same language as our clients. This helps decrease communication barriers and provides a sense of safety to clients.
Our cultural experience helps us understand clients’ holistic and intersecting needs.

*Joel Aguirre interviews a community member on an episode of an Entre Hermanos podcast*

What makes you proud of the work
Entre Hermanos does?
I am proud of our collective intersectionality experience. It makes us look for ways to serve those who are excluded in other contexts. We know from our own experience what it is like to be pushed aside due to our languages, sexualities, races, and genders.
Our collective intersectionality experience helps us understand client’s holistic and intersecting needs.
And we can meet these needs through case management related to medical care, housing assistance, support groups, and more.
I am also proud of the way we cultivate a transformative and gracious space where people can live their most authentic and empowering selves.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
Yes. Very soon Entre Hermanos will expand our reach to the community. We are excited to announce that are opening an office in rural Yakima. This was possible thanks to a Congressional Direct Spending project from Senator Patty Murray. We hope to be ready to roll this out by next year. This office will help us expand our holistic programs on HIV care and prevention, legal representation, prevention education outreach via radio, and more. Rural areas in Eastern Washington are home to many Hispanic/Latinx individuals.Members of the LGBTQ+ community in those areas have little access to culturally and linguistically sensitive services that are LGBTQ+ affirming.Our presence hopes to change that. We want to continue marching into the future, on the road to justice, striving for progress, and expanding our services to sexually diverse Latinx individuals in Washington.

We are blessed with a supportive community, talented and committed staff, and the support of health champions, like you. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Entre Hermanos. We look forward to future opportunities to advance the health and wellbeing of all LGBTQ+ people in Washington State.
Thank you for your support!

Contributor: Edgar Longoria
Executive Director, Entre Hermanos

Entre Hermanos Brings Trust Into LGBTQ+ Care

Posted on May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 by Matthew Bromley

Leer en español.

May 24, 2024 | By Samantha Malott

Originally published in: https://www.multicare.org/vitals/entre-hermanos-brings-trust-into-lgbtq-care/

At a glance

Entre Hermanos provides culturally based care and support to the Latino LGBTQ+ community
Low-barrier and confidential HIV prevention and outreach efforts are expanding into Yakima community
Success is built by reducing language and cultural barriers and fostering a feeling of community

Nearly 40 years ago, a group of Seattle friends came together to create a support network for those feeling the impact of the HIV epidemic.

Fast-forward to today: They’re known as Entre Hermanos, and their mission — to promote the health of the Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) community — has spread not just city- or statewide, but globally.

The key to Entre Hermanos’ success is a culturally based approach to disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy and community building.

“Most of our Latino community are immigrants. It’s well known that if you change your environment or where you live, there’s a shock,” explains Martha Zuniga, Entre Hermanos deputy director. “We try to keep the cultural part within our care and services, create a sense of family and a place where you can feel safe and express yourself.”

Part of that mission means understanding clients need more than just health care support. People’s priorities are food, housing and keeping their family together — then they start thinking about themselves and health care, Zuniga says.

“When people see themselves reflected in the culture of our space, it builds a sense of trust and comfort. They know when speaking to someone on our team that they share a cultural understanding or very similar life experiences.”

Entre Hermanos provides support across all those key areas, including HIV prevention and education (how and where to receive medication, medical follow-up and testing), connection to food, housing and transportation services, and immigration support through an in-house legal team.

Through these wraparound services, Entre Hermanos reaches more than 7,000 people annually. This includes 1,000 who receive direct intervention through sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) navigation and HIV medical case management, and 6,000 who receive free condoms through outreach efforts, says Edgar Longoria, Entre Hermanos executive director.

Medical case managers currently support 200 individuals, and the legal team has more than 90 active cases.

Growing the reach of Entre Hermanos

Recognizing these needs expand far beyond King County, Entre Hermanos is expanding to other areas of the state, including the Yakima community.

“Reaching Yakima has been a dream of ours for a long time,” Zuniga says. “We have people coming and driving from Yakima, the Tri-Cities, Spokane and Wenatchee to get services here because on that side of the state, there’s nothing similar for them.”

As of the 2022 census, Hispanic- or Latino-identifying people accounted for almost 53 percent of the Yakima County population, with the vast majority listing Spanish as their first language.

Many may also speak a language other than English or Spanish, as they’ve come from Cuba, Nicaragua, Chile or Colombia, Zuniga adds.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, critical information was available in English and Spanish, but so many people were missed, she says. With the support of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Entre Hermanos produced informative videos in numerous languages to ensure everyone had access.

Finding support and services in your language is important because things can easily get lost in translation, explains Eduardo Esparza, a Yakima-based nonmedical case manager with Entre Hermanos.

“I have clients who will call me because the pharmacy tells them they can’t fill their medication. What they think is, ‘They don’t want to give me my medication,’ instead of understanding their coverage is expired,” Esparza says. “So that’s when I make some calls to let their medical case manager know what the situation may be so we can address it to solve the problem.”

Yakima has some resources, but Spanish language may not be an option, he explains. And if people do find providers who speak Spanish, the way services are provided may not reflect their culture, Zuniga adds. Trust may be missing as a result.

Culture is the basis for trust

“When people see themselves reflected in the culture of our space, it builds a sense of trust and comfort,” explains Longoria. “They know when speaking to someone on our team that they share a cultural understanding or very similar life experiences.”

Working with case managers who carry that cultural connection also helps build confidence and understanding of treatment, explains Alejandra Grillo-Roa, Entre Hermanos prevention and care program manager.

“We’ll never ask immigration status or charge for our services. It’s free and confidential and it’s all done with love,” Grillo-Roa says. “They don’t need an interpreter to express how they feel, which, if they’re in crisis, it’s important they don’t have to talk through someone else.”

Entre Hermanos helps clients sign up for all the HIV coverage they’re eligible for with DOH, then schedules their first primary care appointment at a trusted clinic, Grillo-Roa explains. HIV case managers may accompany clients to their first appointment and follow up to ensure they understood everything.

The PrEP navigation program is one of Entre Hermanos’ most utilized — the team connects clients with financial assistance for their medication and gender-affirming care and supports them through name changes and hormone or surgical treatments.

Three people stand at a table with informational materials

“We want to make sure there’s no lapse in what they need,” Grillo-Roa says. “We don’t have a timeline for how long they stay with us. We’ve had clients for 11 years, and some who need more services and work with a nonmedical case manager as well, while others become more independent and just check in with us.”

Regardless of how much support clients need, Esparza sees his most important role as being a safe person to come to.

“I also work part-time at a retail store and sometimes I get to interact with the community, and they’ll tell me or ask me about my work at Entre Hermanos,” he says. “They start opening up and telling me about their orientation and if we have stuff to help.”

Once a month, Esparza refills his supply of condoms to have on hand when people in the community ask for help. They’re expensive in the store, and many people may be reluctant to go to Entre Hermanos in person because it could raise questions about their sexual orientation, he explains.

“In rural areas there’s definitely a lack of visibility,” Longoria adds. “We know why people are hesitant to be out and proud in small communities, but we bring that sense of community and acceptance with our services. That’s something you can’t replace.”

Leading the change

In addition to providing critical support services and connection, Entre Hermanos is a leader in advocacy and building a better future for the next generation.

“Our visibility is really important, but our needs are also very similar to other large communities and organizations,” Longoria says. “More recently we’ve been focused on our coalition efforts.”

Entre Hermanos works closely with various city and state commissions focused on LGBTQ+, Latino and immigrant issues, and has a presence at many rallies, health fairs and community events.

“Thankfully, in Washington we have a lot of support through partners, funders and donors, which makes a big difference,” Longoria adds. “But we also recognize that the work we do here, in large part due to social media and the internet, reaches places we never thought it would.”

People in Central America are resharing Entre Hermanos’ posts and thanking them, he says. Grillo-Roa adds they’ve had new clients come in who heard about their program before moving to the United States.

Whether it’s through traditional channels like the website and social media, or peer support groups, community events or podcasts, it’s important to continue growing awareness, Grillo-Roa says.

It takes time to build that trust, especially in a new community. She hopes people find them and know they’re a safe place, free of judgment.

“Partnering for healing and a healthy future” is MultiCare’s mission, and it inspires us to form connections that help improve the quality of life for our communities. Community organizations all around us are doing amazing work, and we’re inspired and excited to support that work.

Stories from our Community is an ongoing series conceived to dive into some of these organizations*, bring their stories to life and spread the word about how they are making our communities better.

*Some of the organizations profiled in this series are recipients of MultiCare’s Community Partnership Fund, which awards funds to nonprofit organizations working on initiatives, programs and projects that improve our community.

What’s next

Find HIV prevention resources with Entre Hermanos
Support the Entre Hermanos mission yourself
Learn more about the importance of HIV prevention from our experts

About the Author: Samantha Malott

Samantha Malott is an editorial content specialist and brings her love for storytelling to the MultiCare Inland Northwest region to shine a spotlight on the excellent staff, providers, patients and community partners in our community.

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Tag: HIV