The worst day of my life

**The email below includes a personal account of a violent sexual assault. It may not be suitable for all readers.** Dear friends – I was so excited to visit my country's capital. I grew up in rural, Eastern Uganda and had never been to Kampala before. But that day turned into a nightmare. I was lured to the city by someone I thought was my friend. When I arrived, I was brutally attacked and raped by two men. One of them gave me HIV. My name is Monica* and I'm a transgender woman. I'm a survivor, a fighter, and now, an activist. After the transphobic attack, I was terrified to go to the police. There's only ONE place I could turn to – a group called the Eastern Region Women's Empowerment Organisation (ERWEO). They helped me get medical and psychological support and get back on my feet. Now I work with ERWEO as a peer advisor, helping other Ugandan trans and queer women who were victimised. I've seen firsthand just how much of an emergency we're facing here. There are more women in need of support and ERWEO doesn't have enough funds to help them all. So we're turning to All Out members. We really need your help. Donate €10 today to provide emergency resources to victimised trans and queer women in Uganda. If 729 more people donate, ERWEO can provide safe housing and psychological support for at least 12 transgender, bisexual, and lesbian women who have been attacked. Ever since the Ugandan government tried to pass the "Kill the Gays bill" a few years ago, violence against LGBT+ people has been on the rise. The bill would have made same-sex relationships punishable by death. LGBT+ people are regularly outed in newspapers, putting them at risk of targeted attacks and mob violence. Transgender women are especially vulnerable. Too often, we're forced to go into hiding, but finding safe shelter can be extremely hard. That's why the work that ERWEO does is so important. Hate crimes are happening every day. And in the rural area where I live, there are so few resources available to victims. But with your help, ERWEO will provide lifesaving support to at least a dozen trans and queer survivors of violence. Luc – will you donate today? Thanks for going All Out, Monica* *I'm not using real names for my own safety. SOURCES:  ● And that's how I survived being killed – Sexual Minorities Uganda Publication, April 2016  ● The Brutal Consequences of Uganda's Infamous Anti-Gay Law – Vice News, 17 March 2016 Want to support All Out's ongoing work? Our tiny team stretches every dollar to make it count. DONATE TODAY

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