Nov 22, 2007   | COMMENTS     

Originally published Nov. 26, 1993

The greatest media circus ever to hit D.C.’s gay community came to town on November 19, when world-famous actress Elizabeth Taylor opened the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s new medical center named in her honor.

“We will gather here again some day to celebrate the end of AIDS, to close and lock these doors forever,” Taylor said at the ceremony.

Many in the throng of reporters who had flocked to the event appeared to be interested primarily in hearing from her about the recent troubles of her friend, pop star Michael Jackson. However, Taylor discussed Jackson only briefly, before getting on with the business at hand.

The opening of the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, a 12,000-square-foot facility located at 14th and R streets, N.W., one block south of the main building, was a milestone in the history of the Whitman-Walker Clinic. The event culminated a week of activities to celebrate Whitman-Walker’s 20th anniversary of offering medical care to local gays and people with HIV/AIDS.

The Taylor Center significantly expands the Clinic’s treatment and research capabilities. Its warmly decorated facilities include the nation’s first comprehensive eye care center for HIV-infected patients; a pharmacy; two dental labs; and equipment to perform X-rays and T-cell counts.
“We believe that our patients deserve first-class care in a first-class setting, but until now we haven’t had it,” Jeff Akman, the Clinic’s outgoing president, noted in a speech at the ceremony.

A moving performance by the African American AIDS Choir kicked off the hour and a half-long ceremony under a tent outside the medical center. Enduring the freezing cold were Clinic staffers, volunteers, people with HIV/AIDS, and dignitaries who included Taylor’s former husband, U.S. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.); D.C. Councilmembers Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Marion Barry (D-Ward 8); director of the D.C. Department of Human Services Vincent Gray; and D.C. Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mohammad N. Akhter.

D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, in a passionate speech, issued proclamations that designated Nov. 19 “Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center Day” and recognized the efforts of the Clinic’s executive director, Jim Graham, and the Taylor Center’s major donors, Frederick Hurdman and Duane Rath of Wisconsin.

Hurdman and Rath, partners of 14 years, donated $1.5 million toward establishing the Taylor Center. According to Graham, theirs was “the largest individual private donation in the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s history.” He also lauded Taylor, who founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

“No other person has been as visible, for as long, and has had more impact here and around the world than her,” Graham said as he presented Taylor with a key to the new building.

U.S. Postmaster General Marvin Runyon was on hand to unveil the Postal Service’s new 29-cent AIDS awareness stamp, featuring a red ribbon. He said 50 million copies of the stamp would be offered for sale at post offices throughout the country beginning on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. Runyon also presented AIDS stamp plaques to Taylor and Graham.

Following the ceremony, which closed with a flute ensemble’s rendition of Amazing Grace, Taylor toured the new center and met with Clinic clients.