jpillian Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 TriMet Chief Apologizes To Lesbian Teenshttp://www.kptv.com/news/13540997/detail.html?cnn=yes POSTED: 5:18 pm PDT June 20, 2007 UPDATED: 6:01 pm PDT June 20, 2007 PORTLAND, Ore. -- A transit agency chief apologized Wednesday to the families of two lesbian teenagers who were kicked off a bus when a passenger complained about them kissing each other. "Removing the girls from the bus was not consistent with our policy," said TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen. "I want to reiterate that we welcome all riders on our system." The 64-year-old bus driver will face disciplinary action for removing the two 14-year-old girls during a June 8 incident aboard his bus, TriMet officials said. But no details about the discipline were released. The driver, an 11-year veteran, violated several agency procedures and policies, officials said. The girls said the driver called them "sickos" after a female passenger complained about their kiss. He then stopped the bus along the street and forced them off. The actions by the girls did not warrant being removed from the bus, and TriMet policy requires operators to call for assistance before removing any minors, TriMet said in a statement released Wednesday. "TriMet sincerely apologizes to the girls and their families for this incident," Hansen said in the statement. The mother of one of the girls, Ronnda Zezula, welcomed the apology. "The only thing I had a problem with is they didn't really address why the driver broke those policies," Zezula said. "He knew it was wrong. He's been a driver for 11 years." She also said she wished the agency had made the extent of the disciplinary action public to show it will not "be just a slap on the wrist." Zezula said the family has been encouraged to consider a lawsuit, but they will "have to mull it over." Melissa Chernaik, spokeswoman for Basic Rights Oregon, said the gay rights group has been in contact with Zezula and "we share the same set of concerns." But Chernaik said the chief concern was that the girls were put in an unsafe situation. "The fact that they were possibly singled out because they were two girls is obviously problematic," Chernaik said. "But the big issue is that teenagers were put at risk and they should not be. Keeping kids safe is really the problem, and it sounds like TriMet is dealing with that, as they should be." Thought this was kind of interesting. 14-year old lesbians mugging down on the bus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinInsite Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 See this is why I NEED a good camera phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 If a bus driver put kids off the bus in our school system (for any reason, due to safety), they'd probably be fired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACW Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Figured it was a female who complained; if it was a guy, I'd be worried :paranoid: :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IONTOP Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 If a bus driver put kids off the bus in our school system (for any reason, due to safety), they'd probably be fired. I think this was public transportation... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brave Little Toaster Oven Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Figured it was a female who complained; if it was a guy, I'd be worried :paranoid: :laugh: You never know, it could have been two fat gothic emo bulldykes :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I think this was public transportation... FWIW, we use public transportation for our Middle and High school students, they are contracted out and have to follow the same rules... I misunderstood, I assumed that the girls were on their way to or from school... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IONTOP Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 FWIW, we use public transportation for our Middle and High school students, they are contracted out and have to follow the same rules...I misunderstood, I assumed that the girls were on their way to or from school... Ah, I guess I've lived in too suburban places to think that city busses could be used as big yellow busses... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 The driver is actually being reprimanded because he didn't have them stoned to death. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsBry Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 To the woman that complained I say, "MIND YOUR OWN ****ING BUSINESS ****!!!" If I was the driver's boss, I'd fire his ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brave Little Toaster Oven Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 To the woman that complained I say, "MIND YOUR OWN ****ING BUSINESS ****!!!"If I was the driver's boss, I'd fire his ass. And if I were a passenger, I'd say "DO IT AGAIN!" with my phone out taking a picture fixed it for ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMK9973 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Worthless without Pictures..... (Just a joke - They are 14!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tizzod Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 That's hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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