A 25-year-old trans woman has received over $70,000 in donations toward her medical expenses after three teenagers attacked her in public with battery acid last Sunday.

The crime took place on Philadelphia’s West Side as the woman headed to the city’s Pride celebration.

Related

They stomped on & kicked a lesbian teen’s head. Now they’re facing the consequences.
“I genuinely think that their plan was to kill me, and that they didn’t care if they ended my life that day.”

Identified only as “Diana”, the victim got off the L train at 52nd and Market Streets shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Sunday when three children between the ages of 8 and 12 approached her and threw a corrosive substance, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore.

Never Miss a Beat

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today

Security footage of the incident shows the three attackers running from the scene.

A couple who witnessed the attack brought Diana into their home and helped shower off what they could of the substance before paramedics arrived.

Diana suffered second and third degree burns to her face, neck, torso, arms and legs. She’s recovering in Temple University Hospital’s burn unit and is in stable condition.

Doctors say she’ll spend three to four weeks in hospital and will require multiple skin grafts and surgeries.

Friends immediately started a GoFundMe page for the victim, who they describe as “the sweetest angel and an absolute spitfire.” It has raised $72,880 of its $81,000 goal as of Wednesday evening.

“Diana has been in such good spirits given the circumstances and is healing with laughter and love from her friends and family,” the webpage states.

“We’re hoping to raise funds to cover surgery costs, hospital/ambulance bills, rent, and other expenses during recovery. Your donations will go directly towards covering Diana’s medical bills and associated expenses as she and the people closest to her heal during this difficult time,” it adds.

A.J. Frigoletto, a friend of Diana’s, said, “She deserves to heal and go through this process with all the support she needs. She’s a really cool person, and this is shocking.”

Police have yet to characterize the attack as a hate crime.

“She was walking down the street going to her destination with her earphones in, so there was no interaction, nothing led up to this event,” said Cpt. Robert McKeever of the Philadelphia Police Department Southwest Detectives Division, which is investigating the crime.

“We really strongly believe this was a hate crime,” said Shiloh Colon, another friend of the victim.

“They were walking towards her,” Colon said Diana told her. “She said that they stopped and then they threw the acid.”

Where that acid came from is part of the investigation. The chemical was strong enough to leave a mark on the sidewalk where the attack took place.

Investigators are monitoring social media and have reached out to the School District of Philadelphia to identify the suspects. They’re also asking anyone with information to call their tip line at 215-686-TIPS.

Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who represents the area where the crime took place, denounced the attack and attributed it to a rise in anti-trans rhetoric.

“Young people are not born with hate in their hearts,” she said. “Instead, the politically motivated, anti-trans hatred spewing out of Washington indoctrinates our kids and incites terrible violence.”

Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.