Taxi Driver Online

Uber driver accused of throwing gay couple out of taxi for kissing

A driver for the taxi company Uber purportedly told a gay couple to "stop that or get out" after they briefly kissed in the back of his taxi. Will Cooper, from south London, said he was on a first date in Soho at around 8.30pm when the pair got into a taxi and kissed.

Mr Cooper, told The Independent: “When we got into the cab, we had a kiss on the back seat. “It wasn’t heavy petting, it was a kiss that must have lasted less than three seconds. “I would understand if we were both blind drunk but it wasn’t like that at all. “We had just started driving and immediately the taxi driver said: 'You guys need to stop that or get out.'"

After the taxi driver's comments, Mr Cooper said he confronted him and suggested he would not treat a straight couple in such a way. “He just sat in complete silence looking at me in the mirror," the 25-year-old said. "He was eerily quiet. He didn’t seem to realise there was any problem with what he was saying at all."

Mr Cooper and his date, who had known each other for a long time before they dated, got out of the car and made a complaint to Uber. The company refunded the cost of five pounds for the ride and said it would look into disciplining the driver. “I feel like we have been completely fobbed off," Mr Cooper said. "Five pounds and a verbal agreement the driver is going to be told off is not acceptable."

Uber told The Independent it was investigating the incident. It said in a statement: “Uber celebrates diversity and does not tolerate any form of discrimination whatsoever."

Mr Cooper, who works as a caseworker in an MP’s office, said he was considering making an official complaint to the police. “I’ve never experienced homophobia like that before," he said. "And I came out in secondary school. That puts it in perspective”

Mr Cooper said he had felt there had been a rise in homophobic feeling in recent weeks, following the shooting of 49 people in a gay club in Orlando, Florida. “I have never felt less safe as a gay person, which is concerning because it’s never been a real issue for me before," he said.

A spokesperson from Stonewall, which supports LGBT people, said: "Incidents like this demonstrate how much is left to do until all LGBT people are able to be themselves without experiencing discrimination and abuse. “We continue to see an increase in the number of reported homophobic hate crimes across the UK, including in areas deemed ‘safe’ and ‘inclusive’ of the community."

In January this year, an Uber driver was suspended after allegedly throwing a lesbian couple out of his car for kissing. “How many people have had this happen before and haven’t said anything? That’s what worries me," Mr Cooper said. “I can take this stuff but I don’t want it to happen to people that can’t,” he said.

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IDFIMH

Do people deliberately go out of their way to offend others just to get a reaction so they can complain and make a big issue out of the situation ?

Is this the same story rehashed or another one because I remember debating this once before ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Not saying in this case, but oh yes.

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IDFIMH

So what is acceptable?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

He didn’t seem to realise there was any problem with what he was saying at all."

well of course not it's probably the first time he has encountered gay people and to be fair what right do people have to engage in "heavy petting" in our vehicles anyway ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

We, as drivers are not allowed to wear clothing that may offend others but it matters not about others offending us. Strange world.

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Grandad,

now the supermarkets are following ubers lead

A gay couple who held hands in a supermarket have expressed their anger after a security guard told them they were acting inappropriately.
Thomas Rees and Joshua Bradwell were in a Sainsbury's store in Hackney when the guard told them a woman had complained about their behaviour.
"It's really knocked me for six and I've spent the last day or so analysing how I'm perceived," said Mr Rees.
Sainsbury's apologised and offered them a £10 voucher.
The 32-year-old said they were holding hands, and that he may have put his arm around his partner's waist as they were buying their food on Monday evening.
"We weren't celebrating good news, we weren't all over each other, we weren't in the throes of passion - it was essentially just holding my boyfriend's hand as I do every day. I'm very much in love and that's how I express my love," he said.
After they paid, a security guard told them about the complaint after he beckoned them outside so they would not be embarrassed, which "aggravated it more".

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

LOOK AT US !!!!

i would have dragged the fookers out of my car