Tri Met - Accused of Alledged Sexual Discrimination
If you’ve never been to Portland Oregon, the city is pretty well known as an open minded place. There’s actually a parade every year that honors gay and lesbian people. The city has also been called ‘little san franscisco’ but no matter what amount of acceptance you have, you’re bound to have those that just can’t understand, or at the very least can’t keep their jaded views to themselves.
Two female bus passengers, Jocelyn O’Neal and Maika Rich were allegedly riding a Tri Met #12 bus, making out with each other as the bus drove down Barbur Boulevard at about 5pm when another passenger complained to the driver about their “conduct”.
Passengers stated that the driver called the girls “Discusting Sicko’s” and told them to “Knock it off”.
The bus continued further down Barbur Boulevard in Portland Oregon, he looked back to see the girls in an embrace that they say was meant as a hug to comfort each other, when he told the girls to get off of the bus.
“This is your stop.”
They got off.
Tri Met’s stance:
Trimet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch says drivers have training in dealing with “difficult people,” but could not provide specific details of training in diversity given to drivers. She could not rule out the possibility that the driver may keep his job with the organization and said “we cannot jump to conclusions until we know the whole story.”
“We classify these as urgent complaints and really jump on them,” Fetsch added.
Rich’s mother, Ronnda Zezula, says she’s concerned about the driver.
“We totally understand that people aren’t always comfortable with two 14-year-old girls kissing, but 14-year-olds push the limits,” says Zezula. “And the driver was an adult, yet his actions were way over the top. What if he takes exception to black kids or old people? If he’s going to act on impulse like this, I really think he should not be serving the public.”
There’s a nice report on Katu by our good friend, Joe English.
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July 5th, 2007 | #
So, what was the “adult” to do. Would it be any different had they been 20 year old’s? Age shouldn’t matter in this situation. Since you sorta don’t think it does, what if a 14 year old coplained that 2 20 year old guys were fondling each other? Beside the point, people complained, the driver did what he/she felt was best. But the distraction to the curb. Nuf said.
July 16th, 2007 | #
In my own opinion yes, I personally would rather not be treated to a view of anyone’s make out session, however in the case that the driver actually has a say over this sort of thing, be they hetro or otherwise, then in the very list, the girls being minors, someone should be called.
However, I personally don’t think the complaint was due to two people kissing, I believe the complaint was made because two girls were kissing. In fact, I believe the former, about as much as I believe that last embrace was for comfort rather than to challenge authority.
If the girls or any minors making out on a bus were actually breaking a law, or tri met rule however, their safety is still of utmost importance, and you can’t just dump them at the nearest corner.
July 16th, 2007 | #