On Wednesday evening, the topic of predictions filled Kafritz Hall. Some seats remained empty, but the atmosphere suggested that it might be the moment when the pop star took the stage. However, the spotlight was not reserved for chart topping performers. This focused on different types of icons.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has made his way forward to winning the Harvey Milk Chess award.
The Harvey Milk Chesed Award was founded in 1998 by BET Mishpachah in honor of civil rights leader Harvey Milk. Milk, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, was assassinated in 1978 after public advocacy for LGBTQ rights. Mishpachah presents annual awards to individuals who have made a prominent contribution to the Jewish community exemplifying “LGBTQ+ and the virtues of Chesed or “Lovingkindness.” ”
The program quickly began at BET Mishpachah, a LGBTQ egalitarian synagogue in Washington at 7pm and featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including Rabbis, doctors, professors, synagogue members and past recipients of the Harvey Milk Chesed Award. Each speaker highlighted various aspects of Dr. Fauci’s career, from leadership amid the public health crisis to engaging with the Jews and the LGBTQ community, but a unified theme emerged.
Fauci, who was director of NIAID from 1984 to 2022, was at the forefront of understanding and fighting some of the most deadly diseases known to humanity, including tuberculosis, Zika, and HIV/AIDS. Frustrated by the escalation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the stacking of federal inactions, Fauci has taken an unconventional step for high-ranking public health officials. He began to directly engage with activists demanding change. He explained that the simple act he later explained shaped his understanding of what patients really needed, even when it meant to defy the general wisdom of medical institutions.
“I have developed long-term friendships with activists,” Fauci said in a 2023 interview with PBS American Masters. “We were like soldiers in the same war.”
This spirit of solidarity began with Barry Friedman, who made a welcoming statement to the crowd, and echoed through the evening speakers. Friedman began his introduction with Hebrew phrases that may at first glance not match a man who is devoted to the rigour of medicine. But as he explained, it was the phrase of the exemplified phrase.
“Lo Tukhal L’Hitaleim,” Friedman read from his notes, explaining that the message was welcomed by his mother as the “11th Commandment.” “You don’t remain indifferent,” he translated.
Fauci explained that Friedman remains immobilized by medical principles, showing deep compassion for those who live with HIV and AIDS. He advocated for changes to drug testing protocols. Researchers allow patients to “parallel track” experimental treatments, even when violating past medical norms. This change has helped to prolong the lives of people affected by the disease and relieve symptoms.
As the night continued, the speaker reflected not only scientific breakthroughs but the extraordinary achievements that Fauko helped bring, by listening to the often ignored people. Fauci praised activists like Larry Kramer for ensuring the needs of HIV/AIDS patients.
One of those speakers, Jefflevi, professor emeritus at the Milken Institute’s School of Public Health at George Washington University, former deputy director of the White House National AIDS Policy Office and best friend of Fauko, led a panel discussion where the two expanded the stories from Hoochy’s 2024 bestselling book. During the panel, Fauko considered how his Jesuit Catholic upbringing shaped a moral compass that transcended religious, cultural and political boundaries in his public health work, and how he could navigate such difficult times in his medical history.
It is almost impossible to calculate the number of lives Fauci saved, but the numbers refer to extraordinary heritage. Millions of LGBTQ people rely in part on his efforts to understand how HIV has become widespread, progressed, and how it can alleviate its symptoms. Additionally, more than 25 million people worldwide (mainly sub-Saharan Africa) benefit from Pepfer, the president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, where Faucou played a key role in his creation.
Following the panel, Fauci is questioned by the audience, reflecting both his legacy and the enduring power of public advocacy.
“The gay community wasn’t afraid to speak up in the 1980s,” he told one audience member. He asked about the similarities between HIV/AIDS and the Covid-19 pandemic and what people can now do to offset some of the “information” of facts presented as truth from the Trump administration. “And we can’t be afraid to speak now.”
When asked about a message that a young LGBTQ doctor hopes to take from his life’s work, Fauci paused and then provided a heartfelt answer. “I don’t want to sound too melodramatic, but we need to love each other.”
With the crowd being removed from the hall, only a handful of fauna worshippers lined up for a signed book, the blade caught up with the honor of the night. When asked how it felt to receive the Harvey Milk Chesed Award, Fauci’s response was characteristically humble.
“It was a great honor to be awarded the award from this community,” he said with a warm smile.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
