Wanda Alston (April 7, 1959 – March 16, 2005) was a strong activist, advocate, government official and admired leader within DC’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Her years of activism date back to the 1990’s. During this time she worked as part of the National Organization for Women (NOW) before eventually becoming part of its National Board of Directors. She was also a co-leader of the UN’s 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, planned marches in Washington DC and San Francisco and organized events for the Human Rights Campaign. Having overcome her own battles with drug addiction, Alston also heavily supported drug recovery programs with the DC area.
On March 16, 2005, her life of activism and advocacy came to an end when she was stabbed to death in her home.
As a fierce advocate of housing programs for homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth, it is our honor to bear Wanda Alston’s name and continue the work she began. Her legacy of activism, advocacy and determination to ensure equal access to a higher quality of life drives our commitment to assist LGBTQ youth in Washington DC.
Listen to Wanda Alston on the Kojo Nnambi Show | December 3, 2001
