Nevada anti-gay taxi policy criticized
- By Ruth Schneider, 365gay.com
03.02.2010
The Nevada Taxi Authority is under fire for a policy that groups gays with alleged criminals among those at high risk of giving communicable diseases to agency employees.
“The policy of the Taxicab Authority is to safeguard, to the highest degree possible, employees and the public who come in contact with people who have or are suspected of having communicable disease without sacrificing essential services to the community or individual citizens,” the policy reads.
Who else, besides the gays, poses a risk of transmitting communicable diseases? Sex workers and intravenous drug users.
The policy goes to great length to explain how “persons of high-risk groups, including homosexuals, intravenous drug users, prostitutes and others are to be treated with caution. Where violence or an altercation is likely, when practical, protective disposable gloves and an eye and face shield should be worn.”
Former TA Officer Scott Lewis told Las Vegas’ CBS 8 the policy shocked him.
“It took my breath away to read that. It lumps in homosexuals and gays with drug users and prostitutes. Drug users and prostitutes as we know are criminals,” he said. “My question is, what is a homosexual? How can you tell? Would you ask them, ‘Are you homosexual?’ and then stop, as it says, for your personal protective equipment.”
