Update: Minneapolis Bus company takes back stand on gay ads

[cboy4]

Both the advertiser and the drivers' union praised Metro Transit's reversal.

Metro Transit issued a statement Friday expressing regret for its decision to accommodate a Minneapolis bus driver who had asked to drive buses free of gay advertising.

The driver told her employer that her religious beliefs opposed the ads.

"In attempting to accommodate a driver's religious beliefs, we inadvertently sent the wrong message about tolerance," read a statement issued by Metro Transit spokesman Bob Gibbons.

http://www.startribune.com/535/story/757123.html

It's good to see some sensible people got involved in this RIDICULOUS matter! :thumbsup:

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Interesting line:

"The bus company thought it was following Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, according to Gibbons, which talks about accommodating employees' sincerely held religious practices.

The implication is that they have been informed that it's not required under Title VII, perhaps because it didn't meet the standard under religious beliefs. I'd love to read a longer description of why they first thought it was covered under Title VII and more importantly why they feel free now to refuse this accommodation in the future because it's important for OTHER employers to understand where to draw the line.

[NMMNG]

2. Hah!

Sommers said she has received e-mails and phone calls from around the country expressing support for the magazine ad, with one person supporting the driver's request.

So much for the theory that "mainstream America" is comprised of bigoted fundie whackjobs.

[The Brethren]

3. I'm glad they thought more about it

and reversed their decision. And that they received a lot of support for the ad. I was also wondering if this were an ad for the Jewish faith, would they have even considered the driver's request to begin with?

[NMMNG]

4. Of course not

It's not ok to discriminate against Jews after all. But it's perfectly ok to discriminate against gays (and atheists), particularly if you pull the "deeply held religious beliefs" card out of your backside.