During Pride Month in Washington, D.C., a physician assistant at Whitman-Walker Health reported a noticeable surge in anxiety, depression, and mental distress among LGBTQ patients, attributing the trend to growing political and societal backlash against queer rights. This observation underscores the organization's ongoing commitment to delivering essential, compassionate care to marginalized communities in challenging times.

Whitman-Walker Health System lost $1.4 million in NIH funding intended for a biomedical research lab project, a move criticized by CEO Dr. Heather Aaron as politically motivated and reflective of an administration's disregard for addressing racial disparities in healthcare. The organization intends to work with community and philanthropic partners to move forward with the project despite the setback.

Whitman Walker Institute is engaging in policy advocacy efforts in Washington, DC by collaborating with healthcare providers, academic institutions, nonprofits, and policymakers to improve public health systems and promote equitable healthcare access.

Whitman-Walker Health, led by CEO Naseema Shafi, has initiated a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ newly published health care discrimination rule that would exclude LGBTQ individuals from protections under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. The legal action, undertaken in coalition with multiple LGBTQ advocacy organizations, asserts that the rule endangers marginalized communities and reflects a broader agenda of discriminatory practices linked to authoritarian policies.