Hello friends. There is a young woman in Uganda who is fighting for her life right now. She was a victim of a horrifying acid attack. Lillian Adiru is a lesbian civil rights activist in Uganda. On March 5,2025 Lilian Adiru was attacked with acid at her home by another woman. Lilian has been left unable to speak and is fighting for her life. The acid burns caused third-degree burns to her face, head, breasts, stomach, and torso. Her right eye has been destroyed and needs to be removed. She is only 26 years old.
I am working with a friend of mine Phillip Mutebi, executive director of Human Rights and Economic Empowerment Development (HUREED), a nonprofit that provides medical and legal assistance to marginalized communities in Uganda. I met Phillip some years ago when he and a group of LGBTQ activists were invited by San Diego Pride, the San Diego Diplomacy Council and the State Dept. to visit San Diego. We have kept in touch over the years and he contacted me about Lillian.
Friends this is a horrific story, but one that is all too common in Uganda. Lillian is part of our community and she desperately needs our help.
She has lost her right eye and is in need of much more medical treatments. The hospital where she was being treated has DISCARGED her today June 5,2025 because they want more money. I was able to send $600 to pay for her current bill and to try and prevent that from happening but now they want money upfront, so they have basically thrown her out.
I spoke to her and Phillip this morning before she was discharged, though she couldn’t speak, Phillip translated my love and concern for her. Her body is horrifically damaged. I have a picture of Lillian but it is so horribly difficult to look at, that I am not posting it.
This afternoon after discharge she was rushed back to a different hospital because she could not breathe.
Please please donate what you can, even $5 or whatever you can afford. As we as a community here in the US, now live in fear, the LGBTQ community in Uganda fights for their lives every day. It is up to all of us, LGBTQ and allies alike to help and support LGBTQ people around the globe, please give generously. Thank you all for your never ending love and support.
All money raised will be used for Lillian’s medical and peripheral expenses.
Here is a link to Phillips Organization HUREED https://hureed.org/