The Washington Blade reports:

Dr. Anthony Fauci accepted an award from the Equality Forum on Sunday in which he told the audience that he is honored to be part of the LGBTQ community’s history.

“Over these many decades I have not simply admired the community — I have genuinely enjoyed being part of the conversation with it,” Fauci said. “I’ve enjoyed the arguments, debates, disagreements, the humor, the friendship and above all the extraordinary commitment to alleviate suffering and prevent premature death for persons living with HIV.”

Longtime HIV/AIDS activist Peter Staley presented Fauci with the award, recalling the early days in the fight against the disease and that activists in the 1980s frequently clashed with Fauci, director of the NIH at the time. In his remarks, Staley recalled the message on one sign from an ‘80s protest, “Fuck Fauci.” But activists warmed up to Fauci and he ultimately befriended his former gay critics, including Larry Kramer.

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