Oklahoma bill on Uber deletes protection for gay riders

AP ^ | 4/15/15 | SEAN MURPHY

[markomalley]

A bill that sets up a regulatory framework in Oklahoma for ridesharing programs such as Uber and Lyft passed the state Senate on Wednesday, but not before a provision protecting gay and transgender passengers from discrimination was removed.

The version of the "Oklahoma Transportation Network Company Services Act" that passed the Republican-controlled Senate on a 35-11 vote defines such companies as those that use a digital network or software application to connect passengers and drivers.

The House-passed version of the bill included language that prohibited the companies from discriminating against customers based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But Sen. Jason Smalley said he rewrote the bill to eliminate that language and allow private businesses to establish their own policies regarding discrimination.

"I believe if a private business owner wants to serve or not serve an individual, they have that purview right now," said Smalley, a Republican.

[markomalley]

How the h3ll is an Uber driver going to know if a passenger is a sodomite except by that sodomite's behavior?

[iowacornman]

Great!!!

[GeronL]

The left already supports muzzie cabbies right not to give fares to service dogs and stuff

[Rodamala]

When we were kids, whenever we were at the Princeton Record Exchange, one of us would go right to the T section and pull this disk out and joke we were going to buy it and make everyone listen to it on the drive home.

[1010RD]

It’s about Freedom of Association.

[Tax-chick]

Why, it’s almost as if we could all agree that private business people can serve those they choose to serve, and not serve others.

Oh, Tax-chick, you’re such an idiot. I’ll bet you’re drunk, too. WHAT are you thinking?

[GeronL]

Lol

[Pining_4_TX]

Which, of course, we lost when the anti-discrimination laws were passed. Only government should be banned from discriminating. Government uses these laws to control us.

[sockmonkey]

ow the h3ll is an Uber driver going to know if a passenger is a sodomite except by that sodomite's behavior?

Uber drivers can rate their ride sharers. Get a poor rating, and no Uber will pick you up.

[markomalley]

Uber drivers can rate their ride sharers. Get a poor rating, and no Uber will pick you up.

But how is an Uber driver going to rate you for being a sodomite unless he observed some behavior?

[sockmonkey]

But how is an Uber driver going to rate you for being a sodomite unless he observed some behavior?

They can give bad ratings based on "vibes" or "seems unfriendly". It doesn't have to be an actual behavior.

[1010RD]

Absolutely correct. Few people know that Rosa Parks was discriminated by a government transit authority. Private buses rarely enforced the racist rules.