MINNESOTA: TRANSGENDERS NOT WELCOME IN CABS DRIVEN BY MOSLEMS

Cab Controversy

By Tom LydenWeb Produced by Michael Durkin


MINNEAPOLIS – In her bright pink hat, Paula Hare has found herself waiting on her stoop a lot lately, for taxi cabs that never come.

Not to avoid confusion, Paula even tells the taxi dispatcher she’s transgendred. But on three occasions when the taxi actually showed up, she says Muslim drivers have refused to give her a lift.

“This is more than just religion, it’s flat out discrimination,” hare said. “And we’ve got laws against that in this state.”

The city of Minneapolis says she’s right.

Of the nearly 2,000 taxis in the Twin Cities metro, estimates are as many as half the drivers are recent immigrants – many Muslim.

The culture clash is most apparent at Twin Cities international Airport, where two to three times a day, taxi drivers refuse a fare because someone is carrying a bottle of alcohol. Some drivers believe the Koran forbids it.

Soon, the airport will even color code the light bar above taxi’s to indicate those who won’t carry booze.

When FOX 9 stopped by the airport taxi lot to talk about the controversy, we got a near riot. No one said they would give us a ride with a bottle of wine, and they told us to go somewhere else.

Back at Paula’s place, the taxi arrives this time, although the driver gives her quite a look. Paula Hare doesn’t care, as long as she gets there.

“They say it’s their religion, but they pick up women without veils,” Hare said.

The owner of Blue and White Taxi says they suspended one of their drivers who refused to give Paula a ride. That driver eventually quit.

The owner also says three local imams, Muslim religious leaders, have said there is no violation of the Koran if you transport alcohol – they just can’t touch it.

While the airport is compromising on this alcohol issue, mainly it seems out of a fear of litigation. The city of Minneapolis is not making a compromise, saying if the passenger has alcohol, or is going to a liquor store, cabbies must still give them a ride.


Pertinent Links:

1) Cab Controversy