Montgomery County's AIDS Response
Montgomery County's response to the AIDS crisis comprised a variety of strategies.
Some were initiatives planned by the county government, while others took shape from community-based organizations serving the LGBTQ+ population.
Some were initiatives planned by the county government, while others took shape from community-based organizations serving the LGBTQ+ population.
AIDS Buddy Program
Starting in 1988, the Montgomery County AIDS Program trained "buddies" to volunteer with persons living with AIDS. Buddies provided emotional support and practical assistance to patients living in Montgomery County. The Whitman-Walker Clinic in D.C. ran similar buddy programs, but its volunteers were concentrated mainly in the city rather than the suburbs.
(The Washington Blade, 10/14/88)
Health Education Resource Organization (HERO)
The Health Education Resource Organization (HERO) was founded in 1983 in Baltimore by Dr. Bernie Branson. The organization was one of the area's first grassroots organizations to help people with HIV and AIDS, and it soon expanded its services to nearby counties. Montgomery County's HERO branch began operating around 1985 (see top left, from the 10/12/90 Washington Blade). It facilitated support groups, offered educational programs on HIV/AIDS (see bottom left, from the 1/3/86 Washington Blade) and provided anonymous testing services (see below, from the 12/5/86 Washington Blade).
Whitman-Walker Clinic of Suburban Maryland
The Whitman-Walker Clinic, which began in 1973 as the Gay Men’s VD Clinic, is a DC-based LGBTQ+ health and AIDS/HIV medical care network. Whitman Walker was a leader in D.C.'s AIDS response and likely drew many patients from the surrounding suburbs, including Montgomery County. In 1992, when the Ryan White CARE Act passed, dedicating federal grants to AIDS/HIV prevention and treatment, Whitman-Walker opened a new location in Takoma Park. Falling financial support for HIV/AIDS treatment by the early 2000's led to financial difficulties for Whitman‐Walker, leading to the closure of this clinic in 2005.