Uber driver told 2 dads their baby "needed his mother" & called the police on them

[Behind the Aegis]

A man name James Moed says that on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, an Uber driver called the police on him and his husband. The driver had seen their crying child in his car and commented that the child needed to be cared for by its mother. Moed believes the driver contacted police after their ride together ended.

Police reportedly knocked on Moed’s hotel room door at the Marriott Marquis Marina in San Diego, California at around 1:30 a.m. and demanded identification to prove that he and his husband were the child’s legal parents. Uber says it’s investigating the incident.

In a series of tweets, Moed wrote, “It turns out the Uber driver who had taken us to the hotel had called the cops – accusing us of… child trafficking? endangerment?”

Moed said that after speaking with the officer, he himself “stayed awake freaking out” asking himself, “What if we hadn’t had his passport? [What if] the cops had been less agreeable? Where can my #Queerfamily travel safely?”

more...

Just a reminder....gay men (and lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender men and women) are minorities and are victimized by homophobia and heterosexism. PRIVILEGE comes in ALL forms, as does OPPRESSION!

[Ilsa]

1. I feel awful for this family. My family has been

there from the standpoint of being threatened with having police called, all because our little boy has developmental disabilities, but of course, doesn't look disabled. A tantrum can look like the results of abuse. We had to develop a plan and carry proof of his diagnosis.

Still, I know this family has it worse than we ever could. Even after they prove their familial relationship, they face doubt and bigotry.

I hope uber fires the driver.

[MarianJack]

2. I hope that Uber fired that driver's crusty ass.

RESIST!

[IronLionZion]

3. Uber drivers have thrown LGBT people out of the car for kissing

With taxis, they can file a complaint with local government and there are laws around this sort of thing.

But for a driver calling police for no apparent crime, unfortunately the ACLU has fought hard and long to protect the driver from any penalties in these sorts of situations. People can call police for anything and get away with it. "His black skin looks like a weapon." "His brown skin means he's undocumented." "Gay men are oppressing me by living life." and so on.

The article didn't say much about the driver. The rider would have his name and info from the app to report him to Uber.

[irisblue]

4. A form letter and Ten Dollars from Uberis not going to work for pissed off and angry parents

from article-... _He added that he notified Uber about the incident, but so far he has only been sent an automatic refund for the cost of his ride and a form letter.

“Keep your $10,” Moed wrote."

snip--"
While Uber’s policies prohibit drivers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, a September 2019 study found that rideshare drivers often discriminate against LGBTQ people. Uber itself has an ongoing issue of its drivers mistreating LGBTQ passengers.

In June 2016, an Australian Uber driver launched into a homophobic tirade before threatening to drag two lesbian customers out of his car. In June 2018, a lesbian couple in New York was booted from a car for allegedly sharing a “quick peck.” The following month, a Washington, D.C. man was kicked out for “sounding gay.”


Homophobia is very real

[PWPippinesq]

5. Sickening!

This kind of behavior has been encouraged and exemplified by Trump. We MUST win in November!

[crickets]

6. How awful for them. I'm glad they spoke up.

It's necessary to expose this type of behavior, to continue shining a light on it and shaming it, and insisting that companies do something about it when their employees discriminate this way.

[Aristus]

7. I've never used Uber. Don't plan to.

What a fucked-up way to travel...