Cab Company Fined For Discrimination Against Gay Couple 8 Years Ago

A Philadelphia cab company was ordered to pay a fine of $500, Thursday, for discriminatory behavior against a gay couple in 2009.

According to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Mark Seaman reportedly kissed his partner on the head while sitting in a cab on his way back from Philadelphia International Airport in December 2009.

According to the account given by Seaman, the driver before stopping the car at the next taxi stand said: "You cannot do that in here."

The driver then asked the couple to get out of the car.

"I just remember thinking, 'Gee, what a nice welcome home to Philadelphia,'" Seaman recalled.

Fast forward eight years, the cab company, PHL Taxi was ordered to pay Seaman a fine of $500. This was the result of a ruling from the Philadelphia Commission of Human Relations, which investigates complaints regarding discrimination and also have the power to shut down organizations who are repeat offenders.

The report said the ruling sets the standard for taxi companies providing services all across the city with regards to being held responsible for discriminatory behavior by their drivers. The ruling also said taxi companies like that of PHL Taxi had to educate their drivers on Philadelphia’s fair practices ordinance, which forbids the discrimination of people on the basis of their sexual orientation, race and religion.

However one of the strange aspects of the case was the length of time it took to get resolved. The report stated that Rue Landau, the executive director of the commission, said that there were numerous reasons due to which the case got delayed but refused to specify the details. She said these cases often end within six months to two years.

Seaman, 34, who now lives in Washington D.C. said: "I am disappointed and perplexed about why it took eight years."

"And I’ve never been offered an explanation," he added.

The report stated he filed a complaint regarding the incident less than a week after it took place.

PHL Taxi argued with the commission on the notion that they only send out the drivers but they can’t control their behavior. To this, the commission said: "We reject that contention."

The driver who was involved in the incident did not lose his driver certification. He is still a driver but doesn’t work for PHL Taxi anymore. According to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, he hasn’t been involved in any such cases after the one in 2009.

Seaman said that he was thankful that the ones responsible for the discrimination had been held accountable. Ronda B. Goldfein, who was Seaman's representative, expressed happiness over the ruling.

"There’s a significant win here for people who are taking cabs in Philadelphia," Goldfein said. "We now have a greater source of remedies."

Discrimination cases against same-sex couples are not rare in the U.S. In June, the Supreme Court decided to hear the case of Jack Phillips, a cake maker who told a gay couple in 2012 he had a store policy to deny service to customers who wanted to buy cakes to celebrate same-sex marriage due to his religious beliefs.