San Diego Pride Announces 2008 `Champion of Pride'

San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride honors San Diego AIDS Project co-founder Dr. Keith D. Vrhel as this year's Spirit of Stonewall "champion of Pride" for his longtime activism in LGBT healthcare. The annual award is bestowed to an individual or couple who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the LGBT community over an extended period of years and/or has made an exceptional contribution in the past year.

In a medical career spanning nearly 30 years, Dr. Vrhel opened his practice to patients suffering from HIV/AIDS at the start of the crisis, at a time when other physicians feared treating patients with the disease. Since then, he has trained hundreds of interns and residents in progressive HIV/AIDS therapies that incorporate respect and compassion towards patients.

Dr. Vrhel is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and HIV/AIDS, and an associate professor of medicine at Scripps Mercy Hospital. His activism extends to numerous organizations that include the San Diego County Task Force on AIDS, the California Medical Association and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. He is also a founding member of the American Academy of HIV Medicine and a charter member of the Greater San Diego Business Association.

The award will be presented at a ceremony on July 14, at the W Hotel in San Diego. Each year the Pride organization invites the community to submit nominations for the prestigious community awards that are presented in four categories for individual community service, group or organization services to the community, plus "Champion of Pride" and the "Friend of the Year."

The San Diego LGBT Pride parade will step off at 11 a.m. on July 19 at University and Normal streets, and the two-day Pride festival is July 19 and 20. This year's theme is: "Live, Love, Be." To sign up for Pride's e-newsletter or inquire about special Pride events and volunteer opportunities, call 619-297-7683, ext. 101, or visit the web site at: www.SanDiegoPride.org.

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