Driver faces discipline in teen bus incident

[LostInTime]

PlanetOut
Barbara Wilcox, The Advocaate

Transit officials in Portland, Ore., apologized Wednesday to two 14-year-old lesbians thrown off a city bus for kissing and said the driver responsible will be punished.

The girls, Maika Rich and Jocelyn O'Neal, were on their way to Portland's Sexual Minority Youth Center on June 8 when their smooching drew a complaint from another passenger.

[Thundra]

Yeah there is a bit of a buzz about town on this subject. Thing is, that if they tell you to get off of the bus, you get off the GD bus. If not, they will call the PDX Policia, and you don't want that. They always shoot first.
This is from a local C.L. posting in PDX:

A TriMet bus driver who's been with the company for 11 years will be disciplined for kicking two teenage girls off his bus for kissing.
According to TriMet spokesperson Mary Fetsch, a rider complained about the teens on the No. 12 Barbur Blvd line on June 8.
The driver asked them to leave, but the agency said rules dictate a driver must call for assistance before asking a rider to leave.
"TriMet sincerely apologizes to the girls and their families for this incident," TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen said. Removing the girls from the bus was not consistent with our policy. I want to reiterate that we welcome all riders on our system."
TriMet did not disclose what specific punishment the 64-year-old driver would face.   
 

And then there is also this:

USE YOUR LIPS
To defend queer rights

In response to the June 8th incident where 2 teenage girls were kicked off the #12 Trimet bus and called "sickos" for kissing, the queer community of Portland is uniting in protest. We are protesting the driver's homophobic actions, and we are protesting Trimet's mild response to the situation.

***************** The Great Kiss-In ****************

Sunday, July 8th
2 pm
Outside of Trimet offices (701 SW 6th Ave., b/t Morrison and Yamhill)

Come with your honey or come alone,
just come there and kiss someone!

Questions? Email greatkissin(at)yahoo(dot)com 
 

Ought to be interesting.