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Bus Driver Suspended For 'Refusing To Drive With Pride Flag On Double Decker'

Bus Driver Suspended For 'Refusing To Drive With Pride Flag On Double Decker'

He said it 'promotes homosexuality'

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

A bus driver has been suspended for refusing to drive a double decker that had a gay pride rainbow flag on the side of it.

The man, described as aged in his 50s, stopped a bus in Norwich, causing passengers to have to wait for another bus in order to get to their destination, while he demanded to swap vehicles.

Konectbus passenger Rebecca Sears, 19, said the incident happened while she was waiting at Norwich Bus Station last Friday for the 501 park and ride service.

She explained: "He said we have to wait a minute; he said 'I am not driving this bus because it promotes homosexuality'.

"I was standing with two other women and we kind of thought he was joking, in a weird way. Like we were just thinking is it really that big of a deal?"

Norwich celebrate pride on 27 July, a week or so before the incident took place. Becca tweeted about what had happened, saying the driver had said that it 'promotes homosexuality'.

Norwich Pride happened in July.
Twitter

She wrote: "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 multi-coloured '501' sign @nparkandride Norwich doesn't appreciate homophobia"

She continued: "I complained to the staff at the station and they were already aware of who I was talking about, so why has nothing been done? I'm aware everyone is entitled to their own views however, if you can't do your job properly because of your bigotry, maybe you need rethink your choices."

She then appealed to TV news stations to cover the story to stop another incident the same happening again, adding: "@BBCLookEast please call out a system that allows homophobes and bigots to get away with things like this, it's 2019 people need to grow up and be more accepting."

Konectbus, which runs the service, told LADbible: "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 underway."

Featured Image Credit: Twitter