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Tell Halifax Cab Commission to Condemn Anti-Gay Remarks
  1. Signatures
    256 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Halifax Taxi and Limousine Advisory Committee (Stephen Adams)
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

In a recent report covering complaints against taxi drivers in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one cab company, Bob's Taxi, saw a rash of complaints. One of those complaints said that a cab driver told a customer, "all queers and faggots should be shot."

When the customer told the cab driver that she was a lesbian, the cab driver said, "you should be shot, too."

After reporting this incident, a city councilmember told the CBC that while the speech is inappropriate, the cab driver can't be disciplined or held accountable because it's not in the bylaws.

But shouldn't a cab company's first and foremost goal be providing all customers, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, a safe space to ride? Send the Halifax Taxi and Limousine Commission a message that they should work to make sure language like this doesn't become the norm, and that whenever hateful remarks like this are used against customers, that a measure is put in place to hold drivers accountable.

Recent Signatures

Please condemn anti-gay remarks and make sure cabs are safe

Dear Mr. Adams,

I'm writing in response to a recent report issued by the municipal taxi commission that described some of the complaints that the commission has received regarding Halifax cab companies. One company, Bob's Taxi, had a significant number of complaints, including one where a cab driver told a customer that "all fa*gots and queers should be shot."

When the customer told the cab driver that she herself was gay, the cab driver said, "you should be shot, too."

This type of language is deeply troubling. Perhaps more concerning is that, according to this CBC news article (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/10/13/ns-halifax-cab-complaints.html), you said that the cab driver in question can't be disciplined or held accountable for his remarks. Your quote was: "It's not against the bylaw to be like that."

This is deeply troubling to me, as it provides no measure of recourse for customers who experience homophobia or anti-gay discrimination while riding in Halifax cabs. Shouldn't cab companies make sure that all of their passengers are safe, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity?

I understand that nothing is currently in the bylaws to address this, but I strongly encourage you to help develop a set of guidelines that provides a measure of accountability for cab drivers who say egregious statements like this. Imagine riding in a cab where the driver says he wants to see the passenger shot. That can't possibly create a safe space, and it deserves to be addressed more than just a sentence in a report.

Many thanks for your time.

[Your name]

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