Gay Couple Booted Out of Chicago Cab on Historic Day

On Friday morning, Alex Perez was on Facebook noting the historic Supreme Court decision that guaranteed same-sex couples the right under the Constitution to marry in every state. By Friday evening, the Chicago man was back on Facebook describing how he was kicked out of a taxi by a homophobic cab driver because he and his partner were holding hands.

“I have lived in this city and taken your cabs for years,” he wrote in a Facebook review for Chicago Carriage Cab. “Today I rode in your cab and your driver kicked my partner and I out of his cab because he did not want gay couples in his cab. We were miles from our destination and it was pouring rain. When I tried to photograph his badge, he tried to take my phone. He cancelled the fare and said we would never be able to find him. This is unacceptable and against the law. Something needs to be done.

“His name is Yassin and he was driving Cab number 5884.”

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Perez and his partner, Kevin Gregory, booked the cab through Uber. Earlier in the week, Uber had changed the logo on its Facebook page to the gay pride rainbow, an irony Gregory noted as he complained to the ride service. Uber responded immediately.

“That’s definitely not OK, Kevin,” Uber wrote in reply. “So sorry for the experience. ... Thanks for bringing this to our attention.”

Uber has banned the cab driver from its service. Chicago Carriage Cab did not respond to calls seeking comment.

Perez is a national correspondent for ABC News based in Chicago and formerly was a local TV news reporter. He and Gregory also will register a complaint with the city of Chicago.

“You should be ashamed to employ hateful people,” Gregory wrote to Chicago Carriage Cab. “We’ll be filing a complaint with the city since this is illegal but I hope you act as well since it’s also immoral.”