October 12th, 2020

Day 12 of LGBTQ+ History Month

Content warning: homophobic violence & graphic language.

On June 11, 1991, 42-year-old gay, civil rights activist William (Bill) Kiley was tending to the lawn of his San Jose rental property, just across the street from his home, when he became the victim of a hate crime. As Kiley finished watering his tenant’s lawn, he was approached by Joshua Huff, the swastika-sporting 17-year-old who lived next door with his parents. Huff began to verbally assault Kiley, eventually punching him in the face. Kiley sprayed Huff with his hose to get him away, but Huff only removed his jacket, and yelled, “Come on fucking faggot!” over and over as he slammed his fists into Kiley’s face, and his feet into his chest and stomach.

Kiley had already suffered at length at the hands of his neighbors who repeatedly verbally harassed him with homophobic slurs and damaged his property without consequence. But today was different. Knowing that he needed a way to prove the hate crimes, Kiley placed a handheld camera in his living room window and set it to record as he managed his rental property.

That day, he caught the whole attack on tape.

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