A Killeen, Texas, barber claims he was teased and assaulted by a man in his workplace because he is trans.
Kier Rice told local news outlet KWTX he was attacked by a man because of his gender identity. The man at the center of the incident was the shop's owner, Garfield David Hicks. In a Facebook post, Rice said he was always teased before the fight broke out on April 19. His clients were also ignored and treated differently.
"He doesn't greet them,” Rice told KWTX. “It was mainly females- lesbians."
Moments before the two men exchanged blows, Hicks was reportedly outraged that Rice was sagging his pants. Hicks allegedly shoved the barber while he was cutting a boy's hair Friday afternoon.
"His eyes just got real big, and I remember him coming at me,” Rice recalled.
Then, according to Rice's interview with the outlet, Hicks put the man in a headlock and punched him repeatedly in the top of the head.
However, Hicks claims the fight was not motivated by hate, and he has no issue with trans people. Instead, the fight was over inconsolable differences stemming from text messages. They reportedly exchanged words before the fight.
"Keira and her friends have been texting my phone,” Hicks told KWTX while misgendering the barber.
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In a subsequent Facebook post, Rice shared he suffered several injuries from the incident. He reportedly has a bruised shoulder, three bruised ribs and a concussion.
Kièr Rice is Barber and Black Transgender Man in Central Texas he was attacked had to be taken to the hospital with three bruised ribs, a concussion, just trying to survive anything you can give would help him alot! #BlackTransLivesMatter
#TrustBlackTransPeople SHARE! pic.twitter.com/D1j41C0pi9— ????Clarabelle Catlin???? (@MsClarabelleC) April 25, 2019
Support our black trans brother in Texas who was violated at work misnamed and misgendered after he was attacked https://t.co/0piSpv1U3m
— BlackTransMedia (@BlackTransMedia) April 25, 2019
Police are now involved, and an investigator is looking into the case. Rice believes the attack was a hate crime. He will also hire an attorney to file a civil suit possibly. In the meantime, he will seek employment elsewhere.
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