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Bad news for the cabbie who kicked the embracing gay couple to the curb on Monday night — Mayor Bloomberg has gotten involved! The NY Post reports that he declared everyone has the right to ride in a cab (duh), and added, "I thought the taxi driver's behavior -- if it is as reported -- was a disgrace. Somebody's orientation has absolutely nothing to do with whether they can ride a taxi. That kind of attitude doesn't fit with what this city's become."
Paul Bruno and his boyfriend say that Medhat Mohamed tossed them from the taxi after they hugged in the backseat. Mohamed has claimed that the couple was distracting him, to which Bloomberg says, "a cabdriver shouldn't worry about the orientation of the people that get in the taxi cab. The cabdriver's job is to get them there safely, as expeditiously as possible."
Meanwhile, the Taxi and Limousine Commission are investigating to find out if Mohamed should be penalized for refusing service.
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Uh-oh, he used the word disgrace. That means this cabbie is just as bad as the reporter who dared to question him on overturning term limits.
Serious, the magnitude of public disgrace and controversy is now completely disproportionate to the offense. I think the cabbie was wrong, but also understand it's a case of immigrant culture shock, not a conspiracy against gay people and civil rights. Puhleeeeez
I'm sorry, if this guy is like most gay men, they were no doubt doing more than "hugging" in the back of that cab.
The cabbie claimed one dude was on the other's lap, straddling him and kissing him. I believe the cabbie. Gay or straight, you are not entitled to have sex in a cab.
And what about seatbelts. I mean safety first.
It must have taken you a while to get to know most gay men, and to study their habits in taxicabs.
Who hasn't made out in a taxi cab? I don't say anything when the cabbie is talking on his cell phone, he shouldn't say anything when someone is having a little kissy kissy.
It seems like that should go without saying, but apparently it's not so obvious to some people...
Oh Majesty Mike, why not wait until all of the facts are in before you render a swift verdict?
Why can't they keep their weird perverted buggery outside of other people's cars? Just because they're allowed to do it, doesn't mean other people have to let them do it wherever they want. It's obscene.
Obviously an Enlightened Thinker here, folks.
someone buy that billionaire a thesaurus. "disgrace" is bloomie's "inconceivable".
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
anybody want a peanut?
...to blave
Just another religious right-winger getting his licks in on America.
Why can't dingbat neanderthals keep their thoughts to themselves? Just because they're allowed to do it, doesn't mean other people have to let them do it wherever they want. It's obscene.
I wonder what the cab driver's take would have been if it was a heterosexual couple? A threesome or get out of my cab situation?
Well it really does depend, doesn't it? Bloomie unsurprisingly jumps to conclusions. If they were really making out as the driver said, then yes, he was entitled to tell them to cut it out in his cab, and throw them out if they refuse. So long as he feels the same way about straight couples making out in his cab.
On the other hand, if they weren't really doing anything, then screw the driver.
The cabbie can use the ol' federal clause of conscientious refusal.
The cabbie is not upset that they were gay it's the act on what they were doing in the cab was turning him off.
Your gay your proud and yes we are used to it but shoving it down other peoples throats is not something people want to get used to.
Make out and fuck at home.
Oh please. The cabbie is some sexually immature idiot that feels ashamed when he's exposed to affection in the public arena.
So what they were on top of each other. Drive your taxi, get paid and shutup.
And anybody who continues to use the "if they're like most gays" claim is a raging idiot no one should be listening to.
I don't think the two guys were shoving it down each other's throats. At least, the cabbie didn't say that, did he?
Wow, who are all these homophobes that read Gothamist? How bizarre.
Most people here seem to be inferring more than has been claimed. Based simply on the facts, how can anybody sympathize with the cab driver? What if it were two ugly people, two black people, two old people, etc etc?
if it were two ugly people it would make more sense.
i see gay people.
You should see how some cabbies treat you when you tell them you're gay AND going to Brooklyn...
Use a car service.
Why would you need to tell them you are gay?
free hugs!
FCD, do you really expect other races and nationalities can stomach two guys kissing then taking down their pants and sucking each other cocks. Would that be acceptable while driving? Why couldn't those two act respectable in someone's else car?
it's called "roadhead" and it's all-american and totally awesome thank you very much.
Why should someone's race pr nationality have anything to do with whether they can deal with gay people? And how do you know what the couple was doing in the back of the cab? It seems like your imagination has run away with you...
Doesn't sound like you can "stomach" it, either. That said, yeah, it's probably better that 2 people wait to go at it full-tilt until they're someplace at least reasonably private, whether they're gay or straight.
But hey, according to the guy who got booted all they were doing was hugging. That's hardly grounds for "get the fuck outta my cab." And I've gotta believe that if it was a straight couple none of this would've happened.
Ohhhh shit! Bloomberg better watch out for that cabbie lobby. He's supposed to be everybody's mayor, not just the gays. I smell a cucumber sandwich and selzer-with-lime summit in his future.
anybody want to do a hug-in.
I'm in. But only if it's in a cab.
But would it get you thrown out of Cash Cab?
Simple rule.
No one should do in a cab what they wouldn't do on the public sidewalk.
such as hugging
You'd have a difficult time finding anything that some people wouldn't do in public.
Is this the same Paul Bruno that works at Page Six, owned by the NY Post, the source of the story? Not saying it didn't happen, just asking if it's the same one.
Dear follicly-challenged cabbies: Hugz not Plugz.
theres plenty of rules for driver conduct but practically none for passenger conduct.
hugging to stained seats is a stretch.
The "Rules" explains all the varied and sometimes complicated reasons a cab driver can and cannot turn down passengers, among other things. Drivers do not have to pick up those transporting what the driver "may reasonably believe will cause damage to the interior of the taxicab, impair its efficient operation, or cause it to become stained or foul smelling."
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/faq_pass.shtml