A bus driver has been suspended after reportedly refusing to drive a bus decorated with the rainbow-coloured LGBT pride flag.
The driver of the 501 bus in Norwich allegedly told passengers they had to wait for him to swap buses because “this bus promotes homosexuality and I refuse to drive it”.
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The bus had been decorated with a rainbow-coloured number in support of LGBT pride, following an event in Norwich last month.
He has been suspended from work while the incident is investigated, according to reports.
Passenger Rebecca Sears, who complained at the bus terminus, highlighted the incident on Twitter, writing: “Today I was waiting for the 501 bus to Thickthorn and we were told by the driver we had to wait for him to swap buses as ‘this bus promotes homosexuality and I refuse to drive it’ due to the multicoloured ‘501’ sign… Norwich doesn’t appreciate homophobia.”
Go East Anglia, the parent company of Konectbus – which operates the 501 route – said: “Go East Anglia prides itself on values that support diversity and inclusion and has been a champion of Norwich Pride since 2017. We particularly want all customers of whatever background or sexual orientation to feel comfortable on our services.
“As a company we do not condone any behaviour from our drivers that does not support this view. The driver involved in this incident has been suspended and a full investigation is under way.”
The decision made by the bus company involves illegitimate pressure on its employees to promote gay rights. The bus drivers should oppose the illiberality of the bus company by refusing pressure to do so.. Let me use an analogy – Suppose I live in Northern Ireland. I am passionately opposed to abortion and I would not under any circumstances promote the killing of the unborn child – no matter how trendy it may be to do so. If asked to get involved in the issue, however, I would remain detached in my day-to-day working life. It isn’t part of my job to promote a cause (out of dozens that could be promoted) though the causes which I could promote in my leisure time would be a matter for me and not my employer. As I understand him, the bus driver, whilst having strongly held views on homosexuality, has not publicly endorsed anti-gay groups or discriminated against passengers who are gay. The intolerance is that of the bus company and should be resisted.