U Street Corridor in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Courage • Caring • Compassion

[Whitman-Walker Clinic Memorial]

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 17, 2022

1. Courage • Caring • Compassion Marker

Inscription. Dedicated to the Whitman-Walker Clinic and the many health care workers who served the LGBT community in this building from 1987 - 2008, the early days of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Erected by William Cochran, Pillar of Fire; The JBG Companies and Grosvenor Americas, sponsors; special thanks to Councilmember Jim Graham for his service and assistance.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1987.

Location. 38° 54.851′ N, 77° 1.929′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in U Street Corridor. Marker is at the intersection of "S" Street Northwest and 14th Street Northwest when traveling west on "S" Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1401 S St NW, Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Facing the Rising Sun (within shouting distance of this marker); John Wesley Cromwell Residence (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Magic Place (about 500 feet away); The Hawarden (about 600 feet away); Paying Attention (about 600 feet away); Georgia Douglas Johnson Residence (about

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600 feet away); James Lesesne Wells Residence (about 600 feet away); Bishop's Gate Condominium (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Additional commentary.
1. About LGBT Biases in the Medical Field
The Whitman-Walker Clinic was one of the first of its kind in the U.S. Biases in the medical field in the 1980s and continuing on to today, have led to subpar treatment of LGBT patients. In the 1980s, the stigma of HIV and AIDS heavily affected medical treatment of gay and bisexual men as well as transgender women. Clinics like Whitman-Walker worked to provide compassionate treatment of LGBT communities. The clinic continues to serve DC in a nearby location. HIV continues to disproportionately affect gay and bisexual men as well as transgender women, especially among Black and Hispanic populations.

— Submitted July 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

2. Gentrification on 14th Street and the U Street Corridor
Absent in the memorial is language for why the

Courage • Caring • Compassion Marker with <i>Pillar of Fire</i> Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 17, 2022

2. Courage • Caring • Compassion Marker with Pillar of Fire Sculpture

Whitman-Walker Clinic was moved. Mid-Town DC, especially along 14th Street and the U Street Corridor is actively displacing communities that thrived in the area for a century. In the 1940s, U Street had a nickname of Black Broadway because of its involvement in the Harlem (or "New Negro") Renaissance. In the 1970s through the 1990s, nearby 17th Street in Dupont Circle was the population center of the LGBTQ communities for DC. Gentrification has taken its toll on the area. Additionally assimilation for the LGBTQ communities (for better and worse) has led to the population spreading out into the suburbs.

— Submitted July 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Additional keywords. HIV treatment, AIDS crisis, first wave of AIDS, LGBT, LGBTQ, 🏳️‍🌈, gentrification

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.