Washington, D.C.'s "Nine" graciously hosted the Positive Leadership Award Reception for National Gay men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The Positive Leadersip Award is NAPWA's highest recognition of service to people living with and affected by HIV. Previous recipients have included Jeff Crowley, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) for conceiving and building 2010's first-even National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). The NGMJAAD Positive Leadership Award recipients were:

•     Human Rights Campaign’s Joe Solmonese, for his work to bring marriage equality to all Americans. NAPWA believes that EQUALITY = PREVENTION.

•     Miss Earline Budd, for her decades of advocacy for transgender people with HIV, and for reminding the gay community that it, too, can discriminate against “others.” NAPWA believes that RESPECTING DIVERSITY = PREVENTION.

•     Joseph O’Neill, MD, for distinguished public service in implementing Ryan White and conceiving and implementing PEPFAR. NAPWA believes that RESPONSIBLE NATIONAL ACTION = PREVENTION.

•     John Sullivan and Alvin Collins, for their years of courage, commitment and love in the face of long-term HIV disease. NAPWA believes that LOVE = PREVENTION.

Serious business! But it was also an occasion to have fun with NAPWA staff and friends and colleagues in the HIV advocacy community. There were reminders, though, of the daily challenges some PLWHA face, even with the best medical care. John and Alvin needed to call it a day and stay home, so their friend and NAPWA trustee Tom Petty accepted their well-earned PLA for them.

NAPWA VP and NGMHAAD organizer Steve Bailous welcomes the guests - new trustees Bruce Hoffmeister (left) and Tom Petty (back, orange tie) and NAPWA President Frank Oldham, Jr. look on

NAPWA President Frank Oldham (left) presents Positive Leadership Award (PLA) to Dr. Joseph O'Neill, George W. Bush's AIDS czar and father of PEPFAR

Tom Petty (left) accepting PLA for John Sullivan and Alvin Collins

Earline Budd (left) accepting PLA

Frank (right) thanking Allere and Allere's T. J. Rivetti for sponsoring the Awards Reception

Frank (right) with NGMHAAD volunteer and consultant Britanny Allen

NASTAD's Kali Lindsey and NMAC's Daniel Montoya

Bayard Rustin Project Program Manager Rodney McCoy (left) with the Husband-in-Chief

Frank (2nd right) with new trustees (from left) Rob Caldwell, Bruce Hoffmeister, and Tom Petty

(from left) New trustees Tom Petty and Rob Caldwell, Frank's executive assistant Stephen DeNardi, and Frank

Rob Caldwell and Tom Petty - Bruce Hoffmeister (background left), Tom's date and Dr. wesley Badillo (background right)