A gay couple say their Uber driver called 9-1-1 after telling them their crying infant “needed his mother.”
James Moed, his husband, and their newborn son live in the U.K. but recently took a trip to San Diego, where they stayed at the Marriott Marina.
In a series of tweets, Moed explains that the family received a knock on their hotel room door at around 1:30 A.M. last Wednesday. It was the police. They demanded the men immediately show their identification.
“It turns out the Uber driver who had taken us to the hotel had called the cops — accusing us of.. child trafficking? endangerment?” he tweeted.
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“The same @Uber driver who told us our crying baby needed his mother, and didn’t back down when we tried to explain that our son has 2 dads.”
After the men explained that they were a same-sex couple with a child and not child traffickers, police departed, but Moed says he and his husband “stayed awake freaking out” for the rest of the night.
They wondered what might have happened if they hadn’t been carrying their son’s passport, or if the officers hadn’t been as understanding or agreeable.
“Where can my #queerfamily travel safely?” he asked.
Moed filed a report with Uber. The company issued him a refund and sent a form letter apologizing for the incident. But he said “we want proof that you keep #LGBTQ riders safe from homophobic drivers.”
Here’s the full Twitter thread:
Last Wed, husband, infant son, and I were staying at @MarriottMarina. At 1:30 AM the @SanDiegoPD knocked on our door, demanding our IDs
— James Moed (@jamesmoed) February 5, 2020
It turns out the @Uber driver who had taken us to the hotel had called the cops – accusing us of.. child trafficking? endangerment?
— James Moed (@jamesmoed) February 5, 2020
The same @Uber driver who told us our crying baby needed his mother, and didn’t back down when we tried to explain that our son has 2 dads.
— James Moed (@jamesmoed) February 5, 2020
Stayed awake freaking out – what if we hadn’t had his passport? ..the cops had been less agreeable? Where can my #queerfamily travel safely?
— James Moed (@jamesmoed) February 5, 2020
Wrote to @Uber. Algorithm sent a refund + formletter. Keep yr $10, we want proof that you keep #LGBTQ riders safe from homophobic drivers
— James Moed (@jamesmoed) February 5, 2020
Spoke to @Uber_Support. Requested apology from the driver (not his dismissal) + evidence of LGBTQ sensitivity training program. Awaiting response.
— James Moed (@jamesmoed) February 5, 2020
RIGay
How about this: Screw Uber. All I read… ALL I read here are the attacks against LBGT+ riders. Screw them. I’ll use a licensed and Union supported taxi service if I need one!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Why anybody would get into an Uber Lyft car is beyond me regular all taxi drivers need to be fingerprinted license and have a background check with those app-based services the same rules don’t apply you have absolutely no idea who’s driving the car you’re getting into and has been countless cases of these noxious pernicious smcubags being homophobic.,
Den
I stopped using classic Taxis as a result of frustration.
The last straw was calling a taxi to get to a dinner party where I was supposed to cook. Taxi dispatcher said 5 minutes. 20 minutes later I called back the dispatcher said the driver arrived on time, called me and left after I never returned the call or showed. He did not know that i had gone outside immediately after calling to wait, so I knew he was lying to me. I told him so, told him what I thought of the company telling baldfaced lies and said I’d best have a cab there in two minutes.
I did, and i downloaded the Lyft app on the cab ride and have used them ever since.
I realize they are not union, and should be. But just got too tired of poor cab service.
Chrisk
What about filing a false police report?
Mack
I agree, there should be charges filed there.
Mack
I’ve read a lot of stories about bigots and racists on Lyft and Uber. Have no desire to use either one ever. I’ll pay for a union cab. In most cases you’re not saving money or grief.
Bob3007
As an uber driver interestingly enough they just gave classes on child trafficking to drivers around the country, this guy was probably doing what uber suggested. Now i agree and feel bad for the guys but blame uber honestly, i swear this was just a thing from this company.
ryuichi
The driver is lucky that the two dads were classy. I would have emptied my bladder over his back seat, prior to exiting his car.
Joshooeerr
Is there an award for the week’s dumbest comment?
Hussain-TheCanadian
I personally dont understand how uber is allowed to function as a business when considering all the legal hoopla taxi drivers have to go through to work.
#supportCabies
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
1000% co-sign. I have a friend who drives for a legit car service. He had to go through multiple background check and obtain a license. Not so for app based drivers. Plus along with pernocious noxious homophibic drivers you hear of sexual depravity assaults like every week from one of their drivers
Chrisk
They’re just a technology company. Not actual employers. The drivers are just sub contractors. That let them avoid all the requirements as an employer. Yeah, it was unfair to the taxi’s and BS but it worked. Made them very rich.
Also as a former uber driver there is a background check. How extensive it is I’m not sure though.
Hussain-TheCanadian
See that makes me even more confused, if they are a “technology company “, how were they able to swirl around all the requirements needed to drive other people around?
I did a quick Google search and the requirements (in Canada) for being a taxi driver:
1) passing a city location map exam.
2) acquiring a roof light that is registered with the city.
3) Being a member of an established taxi company that is registered with the city.
4) special driving license for the purpose of business use be it driving people or carrying cargo.
5) conflict resolution, suing, and compensation allocation is requested, investigated, and paid out by the taxi company that hired the driver.
6) criminal background check requirement.
@ ChrisK
From your experience, Uber drivers dont have to do any of the above? (Minus the background check)
@ Plays well
I had a homophobic driver once, who picked a fight with me because I was discussing gay rights with my friend in the cab. He basically told me that gay people are not natural, that we’re psychologically broken.
I told him why hes wrong in having and propagating such illogical beliefs, what broke the camel’s back is: “you guys are sick, you want to be women but cant, so you’re claiming to be “natural “.
I said “what a ridiculous statement, I can play this game too, you’re a straight man who probably has children, your children are nothing more than walking breathing carbon footprints that will do nothing but ruin this earth further by contaminating our planet – Sir you’re a biological terrorist that we need to force a vasectomy on”
He freaked out and kicked us out of the cab; we left, called the office, told them exactly what happened, told them the roof light’s number, and where we were dropped off. Ten days later we got an apology, 4 weekends worth of free driving, an a letter by the driver apologizing.
I doubt Uber is able to match this kind of customer service; fear of bad reviews, fear of getting the press involved, and involving the cops are consequences no business wants to endure.
It seems uber dont care.
nitejonboy
I hope this piece of crap gets banned from driving for Uber. Sadly it’s not a safe company to use if you’re lgbtq because they have very few regulations until something actually does happen then they react afterwards when it’s too late.