District of Columbia
Whitman-Walker’s Walk & 5K to End HIV set for Sept. 20
39th annual event expected to draw thousands
Whitman-Walker Health, which describes itself as a leader in primary health, LGBTQ+ healthcare, education and research, with a special expertise in HIV care, is inviting the public to participate in its 39th Annual Walk and 5K Run to End HIV.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, in D.C.’s Anacostia Park
“For nearly four decades, the Walk to End HIV has been Whitman-Walker’s signature community fundraiser and one of Washington, D.C.’s most unifying events,” the health organization says in a statement.
“Every year, thousands of residents, advocates, and allies lace up their shoes to walk, run, and help raise critical funds for Whitman-Walker’s mission of providing dependable, high-quality, comprehensive, and accessible health care to those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS,” the statement says.
It adds, “The Walk is more than just a fundraiser – it’s a movement. Every step helps to advance HIV prevention, support long-term survivors, and expand access to care for those most impacted, particularly young people and residents in Wards 7 and 8.”
The statement notes that this year Whitman-Walker will celebrate its fourth year of hosting the event in Anacostia Park in Southeast D.C. near where Whitman-Walker’s largest facility and headquarters are now located. In previous years the Walk was held in downtown D.C. The statement calls the decision to move the location of the event a “bold move to stand in solidarity with communities we know to be most impacted by this epidemic.”
According to the statement, “Participants will enjoy an energizing morning featuring a lively community warm-up, music, entertainment, and a stage program highlighting local leaders, advocates, and stories of hope.” It says the event will also provide free shuttle service from the Anacostia Metro Station where some participants are expected to arrive.
It says registration for the walk and run will begin at 8 a.m., with the run scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. and the walk scheduled to begin at 8:50 a.m. The stage program and entertainment are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the time the run and walk are expected to end.
Proceeds from the walk and run, the statement says, “directly support Whitman-Walker’s comprehensive, community-based healthcare, ensuring that everyone – regardless of income, race, gender identity, or HIV status – can access affirming, high-quality services.”
The start and end to the run and walk will be at Anacostia Park, located at 1500 Anacostia Dr., S.E, adjacent to the park’s roller-skating pavilion, the statement says.
“Roads into the Park will close at 8:30 a.m., so plan your arrival accordingly,” the statement adds. “Roads will reopen at 9:30 a.m.”
Registration and other information can be accessed at walktoendHIV.org.
District of Columbia
D.C. bar, LGBTQ+ Community Center to mark Lesbian Visibility Week
‘Ahead of the Curve’ documentary screening, ‘Queeroke’ among events
2026 Lesbian Visibility Week North America will take place from April 20-26.
This year marks the third annual Lesbian Visibility Week, run by the Curve Foundation. A host of events take place from April 20-26.
This year’s theme is Health and Wellness. For the Curve Foundation, the term “lesbian” serves as an umbrella term for a host of identities, including lesbians, bisexual and transgender women, and anyone else connected to the lesbian community.
The week kicks off with a flag-raising ceremony on April 19. It will take place in New York, but will be livestreamed for the public.
“Queeroke” is one of the events being held around the country. It will take place at various participating bars on April 23.
As You Are, an LGBTQ bar in Capitol Hill, is one of eight locations across the U.S. participating. Their event is free and 21+.
On April 24, the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center will hold a screening of “Ahead of the Curve,” a documentary about the founder of Curve, Franco Stevens. The event is free with an RSVP.
April 25, is Queer Women in Sports Day. And on April 26, several monuments in New York will be illuminated.
Virtual events ranging from health to sports will be made available to the public. Details will be released closer to the start of Lesbian Visibility Week. Featured events can be found on the official website.
Some ways for individuals to get involved are to use #LVW26 and tag the official Lesbian Visibility Week account on social media posts. People are encouraged to display their lesbian flags, and businesses can hand out pins and decorate. They can also reach out to local lawmakers to encourage them to issue an official Lesbian Visibility Week.
District of Columbia
Whitman-Walker Health to present ‘Pro Bono Excellence’ award to law firm
Health center set to celebrate 40th anniversary of legal services program
Whitman-Walker Health, the D.C.-based community healthcare center that specializes in HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ-related health services, announced it will present its annual Dale Edwin Sanders Award for Pro Bono Excellence to the international law firm McDermott Will & Schulte at a May 6 ceremony.
“This year’s award is especially significant as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of Whitman-Walker Health’s Legal Services Program, marking it as the nation’s longest running medical-legal partnership,” a statement released by Whitman-Walker says.
“As a national leader in public health, Whitman-Walker celebrates our partnership with McDermott to strengthen the health center and to enable Whitman-Walker to reach more medical and legal clients,” the statement adds.
“McDermott’s firm-wide commitment to Whitman-Walker’s medical-legal partnership demonstrates a shared vision to serve those most in need,” Amy Nelson, Whitman-Walker’s director of Legal Services, says in the statement. “Our work protects individuals and families who face discrimination and hostility as they navigate increasingly complex administrative systems,” Nelson said.
“Pro bono legal services – like that of McDermott Will & Schulte – find solutions for people who have no place else to turn in the face of financial and health threats,” she added.
“Our partnership with Whitman-Walker Health is a treasured commitment to serving our neighbors and communities,” Steven Schnelle, one of the law firm’s partners said in the statement. “We are deeply moved by Whitman-Walker’s unwavering dedication to inclusion, respect, and equitable access to health care and social services,” he said.
The statement notes that the award for Pro Bono Excellence honors the legacy of the late gay attorney Dale Edwin Sanders. It says Sanders’s pro bono legal work for Whitman-Walker clients “shaped HIV/AIDS law for more than four decades by securing key victories on behalf of individuals whose employment and patient rights were violated.”
It says the Whitman-Walker Legal Services program began during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s at a time when people with AIDS faced widespread discrimination and often needed legal assistance. According to the statement, the program evolved over the years and expanded to advocate for transgender people and immigrants.
Whitman-Walker spokesperson Lisa Amore said the presentation of the Dale Edwin Sanders Pro Bono Excellency Award will be held at the May 6 fundraising benefit for Whitman-Walker’s Legal Services Program. She said the event will take place at the offices of the DC law firm Baker McKenzie and ticket availability can be accessed here: https://www.whitman-walker.org/gtem-2026/
District of Columbia
Celebrations of life planned for Sean Bartel
Two memorial events scheduled in D.C.
Two celebrations of life are planned for Sean Christopher Bartel, 48, who was found deceased on a hiking trail in Argentina on or around March 15. Bartel began his career as a television news reporter and news anchor at stations in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before serving as Senior Video Producer for the D.C.-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union from 2013 to 2024.
A memorial gathering is planned for Friday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the IBEW International Office (900 7th St., N.W.), according to a statement by the DC Gay Flag Football League, where Bartel was a longtime member. A celebration of life is planned that same evening, 6-8 p.m. at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.).
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