Li Hu (; (born August 27, 1974– August 6, 2014) is the pseudonym of a Chinese

HIV/AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

activist. He died from complications from AIDS at the age of 40. Li Hu was diagnosed with HIV on June 10, 2006, and later that year founded the HIV/AIDS advocacy group Tianjin Haihe Star AIDS Working Group () that he formed as a support organization for those living with HIV/AIDS. Li was famously known for helping a man living with HIV, Xiao Feng (), obtain surgery to treat his lung cancer after being previously denied because of his HIV status. Li helped Xiao modify his medical records so he could get treatment then publicized his efforts on

Weibo Weibo (), or Sina Weibo (), is a Chinese microblogging ( weibo) website. Launched by Sina Corporation on 14 August 2009, it is one of the biggest social media platforms in China, with over 582 million monthly active users (252 million daily ac ...

to draw attention to the unfair treatment of Chinese people living with HIV. His post went viral, drawing supporters and critics about the concealing of HIV status. He later appeared on the national Chinese program

CCTV-13 CCTV-13 (, China Central Television News Channel), formerly CCTV News (), broadcasting across China since 2003, is a 24-hour news channel of China Central Television and the biggest news channel in mainland China. Content CCTV News channel broad ...

's "One on One" in disguise where he explained the case to illustrate the unfair treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS and that more education and rights are needed. This drew further national attention, even resulting in Li meeting with Vice Premier

Li Keqiang Li Keqiang ( zh, s=李克强, p=Lǐ Kèqiáng; 3 July 1955 – 27 October 2023) was a Chinese economist and politician who served as the seventh premier of China from 2013 to 2023. He was also the second-ranked member of the Politburo Standing ...

who later "pledged greater support and tax breaks for HIV/AIDS organizations, an expansion of free drug treatment for people with the disease and protection of patients from discrimination at hospitals."

References

1974 births 2014 deaths AIDS-related deaths in China Chinese HIV/AIDS activists Chinese LGBTQ rights activists {{LGBTQ-activist-stub