Las Vegas Taxi Authority Instructs Officers to Treat Gays as They Would IV Drug Users and Prostitutes
The Las Vegas Taxi Authority has guidelines for its officers on how to treat people who are potentially diseased:
"And who are those people? According to the TA, high-risk groups include homosexuals, I.V. drug users and prostitutes.
Former TA Officer Scott Lewis says he was floored when he read the policy manual given to him by his boss at the TA.
'It took my breath away to read that," he said. 'It lumps in homosexuals and gays with drug users and prostitutes. Drug users and prostitutes as we know are criminals.'
The policy spells out that TA officers should use protective gear and gloves in the event they need to take a high-risk suspect into custody.
'My question is, what is a homosexual? How can you tell? Would you ask them, ‘Are you homosexual?' and then stop, as it says, for your personal protective equipment,' said Lewis."
Video investigation HERE.
LasVegasNow reports: "Late Monday, the TA informed the I-Team it approved a new policy manual in June 2007 which does not contain the offensive verbiage about gays. But, at least four TA officers were given the offending manual long after the new policy supposedly went into effect. Plus, it appears that manual is for administrative workers, not for officers in the field. Even recent hires say the old manual is still the one being handed out to employees. Taxi board member Josh Miller says he plans to investigate."
(via joe.my.god)
Taxi? How common. When I travel to Las Vegas I always have a limo and a driver at my disposal. Taxi?!!! Phoowee! So common.
Posted by: Bradley J Tiltnosen III | Mar 2, 2010 2:17:08 PM
As a volunteer with two HIV/AIDS agencies in Tucson, I hate to tell these bigots, but EVERYONE has an HIV status. That means his officers have just as much need to wear protective gear around the Mayor, City Council, and the director of the Taxi Authority as they do for "homosexuals, IV drug users, and prostitutes." Hizzoner may not think he's been exposed, but if he doesn't know where his wife is 24/7/365, then he doesn't know for SURE, does he.
Idiots.
Posted by: Craig | Mar 2, 2010 2:23:54 PM
mayor's office email:
ogoodman@lasvegasnevada.gov
feel free to offer your feedback on why you will not be visiting Las Vegas with your fabulous oink dollars anytime soon.
Posted by: KT | Mar 2, 2010 2:38:54 PM
Why should the Las Vegas Taxi Authority be held to a higher standard than the American Red Cross?
Posted by: Dan | Mar 2, 2010 2:40:25 PM
Nevada sucks
Posted by: KFLO | Mar 2, 2010 3:08:43 PM
Excellent point Dan ... which is why I will NEVER give a drop of blood or a dime to the American Red Cross.
Posted by: Ryan | Mar 2, 2010 3:10:24 PM
So, where is "Straight Black Women" in this group of high-risk disease groups? Or am I to assume that they've used other words to describe this group in an already prejudiced document?
Posted by: JonBenet | Mar 2, 2010 3:11:17 PM
Equally, you can't always tell who is a prostitute or a drug user. They're using VERY stereotypical ideas in identifying their population. It's offensive to me as a homosexual, and it should be offensive to anyone who is a prostitute or to anyone who uses drugs. (does this include prescription drug users?)
Posted by: mrmnyc | Mar 2, 2010 3:15:16 PM
Vegas is toast-
the city that defines cheap and tacky.
Posted by: Nick | Mar 2, 2010 3:16:52 PM
Well, I am bi but I think that they should tell thier officers to protect themselve when dealing with groups of people that have high HIV rates, they should have included straight black women too, but I guess that is too unpc to print.
Posted by: Kitty | Mar 2, 2010 3:51:40 PM
how about a very very public boycott of las vegas by gays and friends and families of gays to let other cities know we will not tolerate this kind of of outright hateful bigotry and will not continue to run there money in hand like it is o k because after all it's still vegas baby!. after all the motto is what happens in vegas stays in vegas and so we will stay away.no half baked we don't mean it.and let's do it before they find a way to blame this on president obama cause u know some will try to find a way to make ot his fault.boycott,boycott,boycott!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: joebatch | Mar 3, 2010 5:11:32 AM
I'm confused. I thought prostitution was legal over there. So why does it say they are criminals?
TRiG.
Posted by: Timothy (TRiG) | Mar 3, 2010 9:09:33 AM
As if we needed any more reasons to not visit Vegas. It's a tacky, dirty sh*thole.
Posted by: matt | Mar 3, 2010 9:31:08 AM
Just because our "Taxi Authority" is stupid enough to hand out old manuals doesn't mean you necessarily have to lump the rest of us Las Vegans with them. Is the taxi authority in your city a good representation of your residents?
Yes, our city might have a reputation for its sleaze, but we have people here who live normal lives that don't revolve around gambling, sex, or alcohol. Don't call people bigots if you're so quick to stereotype a whole city and its residents yourself.
Posted by: Ryan | Mar 3, 2010 7:12:54 PM
To Trig: Prostitution is legal in a few rural counties, not in Clark County where Las Vegas is. Common misconception.
Posted by: wtdp | Mar 4, 2010 11:50:10 AM