So why did that NYC taxi driver Medhat Mohamed throw out a couple of gay passengers in Harlem? Because he was concerned that, after seeing them hugging, he was going to have to watch them have sex in the backseat!
“I wanted to pay attention to getting them to their destination instead of worrying if they were going to have sex or not,” says Mohamed of passenger Paul Bruno and the male fella he shared a hug with in the backseat en route to a birthday party. “They kept hugging and kissing. He was almost sitting on his lap. And I said, ‘OK, guys, come on, I’m driving.'”
And because he wants to avoid any discrimination charges, he insists he would’ve tossed any passenger, hetero too, if he saw them canoodling through the rearview.
His boss begs to differ:
How about we take this to the next level?
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But the owner of his taxi medallion said Mohamed is Muslim and “in our religion, we can’t handle that stuff.”
Mahmoud Elnefnawy, who runs Astoria Express Management, added, “There’s no kissing allowed in the cab. A man has to be a man.”
Alexander
Legally, the guy had a right to refuse them service based on any reason he likes, but come on, his statement reflects specious reasoning at best. Anything COULD happen, sure, but I wouldn’t kick out decent, fare-paying customers for what COULD happen. Not in this economy.
Latebrosus
If the driver has thrown out heterosexual couples for doing the same thing, then fine.
But I bet he hasn’t.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
And here is what will happen when Muslims and Islamofacists take over every sector of America. Today taxis, tomorow the world.
Fitz
The only rational response to situations like this is violence. Politics? Fail. Law enforcement? Fail. Public Pressure? Fail.
Grey
@Alexander – Actually, I believe you are incorrect. In New York City, San Francisco, and many other cities, he cannot simply “refuse them service based on any reason he likes.” Once he was flagged down and accepted the passengers, his options for refusing service are very limited. He cannot decide, for example, that he doesn’t want to take them to their requested destination because he wants to wait for a better fare or doesn’t like that neighborhood. He can kick them out if they were drunk and disorderly or violent, but it doesn’t sound like that was the case here.
Joseph
I have sex everytime i’m in a cab!
B
Fitz wrote, “The only rational response to situations like this is violence. Politics? Fail. Law enforcement? Fail. Public Pressure? Fail.” Lawsuit? Bingo!
Don’t know about NY, but in California, the Unruh civil rights law requires “public acomodations” (which a taxicab-service is) to not discriminate. His excuse (we’d kick out anyone kissing) would be laughed out of court – it is so transparent. Beside, a plaintiff would simply hire a straight couple, try to arrange for this guy to pick them up, and if he didn’t kick them out for kissing, they’d be used as witnesses (and the witnesses would fade into obscurity if he did kick them out).
Garrett B
We should make him regret that decision. NYC loves the gays, so all I want to know is what cab number his is.
BOYCOTT
Alexander
@Grey You’re probably right, now that I think about it. I forget sometimes that cabs and other transport companies have their own set of regs. Thanks for the clarification!
Muaddib777
This is amusing because I have been propositioned by 2 different Muslim cab drivers in NYC. One time it happened when I was only 15! I think a lot of Muslim immigrants that come here are gay and would be killed in their home countries. This guy needs to get over it or just go back to his intolerant country of origin.
Muaddib777
This is amusing because I have been propositioned by 2 different Muslim cab drivers in NYC. One time it happened when I was only 15! A lot of Muslim immigrants that come here are gay and come because would be killed in their home countries.
This guy needs to get over it or just go back to his intolerant country of origin.
romeo
A cab backed up into me when I was going behind it to let a friend out on Columbus Circle. Really banged my knee. I wonder if it was this douche? otherwise I love visiting N.Y.. Always have a good time there.
Dick Butz
I would like to gangrape one of those towelhead hajis. Too many of us voted for that coon Obama so we can’t have fun with worthless Islamist hajis anymore. It’s time to torture them again and kill them all until there are none left. KILL THE TOWELHEADS