A bus driver won’t reveal why she stopped her vehicle in order to reportedly wait for her supervisor, and passenger Benjamin Purdom claims it’s because she had a bus-sized problem with the fact that he’s gay.
Security footage released by The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) appears to substantiate the claim. COTA is currently investigating the situation.
Purdom posted a video of the incident to his Facebook profile, which shows him getting onto the bus and heading to the back to sit down.
“If you keep doing what you’re doing,” the driver can be heard saying, “I’m going to have to ask you to get off. I’m uncomfortable with you on here.”
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He asks what he’s done.
Her response: “I’m not going to accept you being on the bus and assault me and then sit there like you’re doing nothing, but my body knows you’re doing something.”
Talking to The Dispatch, Purdom says, “She was really terrifying. “I didn’t figure that it might be a discriminatory thing until someone pointed out her ‘I love Jesus’ lanyard. I was wearing visible makeup. I can only jump to conclusions because she wouldn’t give me an explanation.”
COTA has released the following statement:
COTA policy strictly prohibits all discrimination, including that based upon sexual orientation, and we take seriously any such allegation. At this time, we are reviewing all available information so that we can have a full understanding of this incident. Once we have the facts, we will share information with the public, and we will take appropriate action.”
Watch the security footage here:
