Metro Weekly

Whitman-Walker Clinic releases statement on the passing of Elizabeth Taylor

“Elizabeth Taylor was the first major Hollywood star to take up the banner of HIV/AIDS activism. At a time when most Americans thought of HIV/AIDS as something that didn’t affect them, her commitment to the issue and considerable star power helped to take the fight against HIV/AIDS right into the mainstream of American society. Her dedication to raising money along with awareness has helped to save countless lives both by helping to treat people living with the virus and by preventing new infections.”

“Because of her dedication and commitment, Whitman-Walker named our main facility in northwest Washington after her in 1993. "Her dedication to the cause led her to be her personally for the dedication. That kind of commitment exemplifies why she was so important in the early days of the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will ensure that she is remembered not just for her career but for her unwavering support for a community and a cause that, in the early days, many would not touch.”

Don Blanchon, Executive Director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, in a statement released by the clinic.

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