Ernest Hopkins

Ernest Hopkins is a pioneering advocate for the Black LGBTQ+ community and HIV/AIDS awareness. He founded the inaugural Black Gay and Lesbian Pride Day in 1991, an event that has played a pivotal role in funding essential services for HIV/AIDS patients. Hopkins has held several Director roles in various HIV/AIDS organizations, including the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Regional HIV Health Services Planning Council and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF). Recognized for his impactful work, Hopkins received the Congressional Black Caucus’s Leadership Award, and the DC Black Pride's Unsung Hero Award was renamed in his honor in 2021. He continues his advocacy from San Francisco, California.