Like

Towleroad

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

BREAKING: Disney Parks Releases Limited Edition Mickey Mouse Rainbow Love Pride Ears: VIDEO

Martina Navratilova Blasts NYC’s ‘Cruel’ Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry After Anti-Gay, Racist Incident: VIDEO

PreviousPrevious StoryAFA’s Bryan Fischer: Gays Should Be Denied Custody of Children —VIDEO
NextNext StoryChick-Fil-A Chief Dan Cathy Says the Company is ‘Guilty as Charged’ of its Support for Anti-Gay Causes

by Andy Towle
July 17, 2012 | 12:14pm

Share Comments

Carriage

EXCLUSIVE

HorsePETA spokeswoman Martina Navratilova has sent a letter to NYC City Council speaker Christine Quinn on the group's behalf condemning the horse-drawn carriage industry following a disturbing incident over LGBT Pride weekend which was captured on video in which a group of women leafleting near the carriages were verbally assaulted with homophobic and racist slurs by one of the drivers.

Navratilova says the incident is just further proof that the NYC horse-drawn carriage industry, given recent accidents which have led to horse and human injuries, needs an overhaul, and urges Quinn to change her position on the issue.

Watch the video, AFTER THE JUMP....

NavratilovaNavratilova's letter to Quinn:

July 16, 2012
 
The Honorable Christine Quinn
New York City Council Speaker
 
Dear Speaker Quinn:
 
I'm writing to ask that you shift your position on the city's horse-drawn carriage problem, not just because of the danger and the cruelty endured by the horses in midtown traffic but also because of the aggressive homophobia exhibited by carriage drivers.
 
As any animal lover will tell you, the carriage drivers you support spew hate when anyone expresses concern for the horses they force to work in all weather extremes, and during Pride weekend it was captured on video. "You have a big dyke convention here?" shouted the driver at a small group of women, mostly seniors, who were peacefully leafleting near where the carriages line up. "F**king ni**er," he said to a black woman in the group. How can you support such a scurrilous industry that spouts racist and homophobic vitriol?
 
Many PETA advocates, including me, are gay. We share a heightened sense of responsibility in fighting the callous disregard that many have for animal suffering because we have experienced a similar disregard for the cruelty that we ourselves have faced. You are a champion of gay rights; won't you extend your compassion to the city's beleaguered working animals? These animals have been stripped of all their rights and have been denied the opportunity to fulfill their natural instincts. And for years, there have been accidents resulting in horse deaths and human injuries, the most recent occurring just last month when an SUV collided with a horse, which I hope you read about. That's why I urge you to support Intro. 86A, the bill seeking to replace the archaic horse-drawn carriages with eco-friendly classic cars. At the very least, won't you green-light the pilot program to test the viability of this savvy idea? It doesn't cost the city a cent or any jobs and is sure to be a hit with tourists. All eyes are on you to make the right move.
 
As evidenced by the hateful, bigoted carriage driver in the video, everything about this industry is stuck in the 19th century. Help us move into a more civilized future. I look forward to hearing from you on this important matter.
 
Sincerely,
 
Martina Navratilova

Watch the video, AFTER THE JUMP...

An UPDATE to the story HERE.

Exclusive - please credit Towleroad...

PreviousPrevious StoryAFA’s Bryan Fischer: Gays Should Be Denied Custody of Children —VIDEO
NextNext StoryChick-Fil-A Chief Dan Cathy Says the Company is ‘Guilty as Charged’ of its Support for Anti-Gay Causes
Share Like Comments

Posted July 17, 2012 at 12:14pm ETC by Andy Towle
in Christine Quinn, Martina Navratilova, New York, News, PETA

Follow Us

Like Towleroad

Towleroad

Video

ronny jackson obese trump

Trump VA Pick Ronny Jackson Prescribed Himself Drugs, Wrecked Government Vehicle While Drunk

Share114 Like114

kev

Charlie Hunnam, Debbie Lesko, Press Freedom, Peter Thiel, Joy Reid, Mark Zuckerberg: HOT LINKS

Share12 Like12

Matt and Dan Say Goodbye to a Mutual Friend on His Deathbed: WATCH

Share11 Like11

Maxine Waters

Rep. Maxine Waters Urges Trump: ‘Please Resign…Just Get Out’

Share108 Like108

mickey mouse rainbow love

Disney Parks Releases Limited Edition Mickey Mouse Rainbow Love Pride Ears: VIDEO

Share250 Like250

karamo brown

Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown Sounds Off on Antoni’s Thirst Trap Photo Shoot, Shania Twain’s Trump Views: WATCH

Share64 Like64

Hunk of the Day

dan reynolds gay

Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds Strips Down with Rainbow Flag: ‘Embrace Our Sexual Diversity’

Share773 Like773

Columns

  • Theatre Review In ‘Transfers,’ a Shot at Privilege Means Reckoning with Stacked Odds: REVIEW
  • Recap The Queens On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Talk the Talk [RECAP and RANKING]
  • Theatre Review Time’s Up? Not So Fast: ‘Carousel’ Is Back on Broadway: REVIEW
  • Theatre Review In ‘This Flat Earth,’ Growing Up in the Shadow of a School Shooting
  • Recap ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Queens Get App Happy and Flocked Up on the Runway [RECAP and RANKING]
  • Theatre Review In ‘Three Tall Women’ and ‘Yerma,’ Stunning Portraits of Women on the Verge: REVIEW
  • Theatre Review Chris Evans and Michael Cera Are Men in Uniform in Kenneth Lonergan’s Superb ‘Lobby Hero’: REVIEW
  • Theatre Review Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane Star in Electrifying ‘Angels in America’: REVIEW
  • Theatre Review A Slushy ‘Frozen’ Opens on Broadway: REVIEW
  • Recap It All Comes To An End On ‘Versace: American Crime Story’ Finale: RECAP

Latest Posts

  • ronny jackson obese trumpTrump VA Pick Ronny Jackson Prescribed Himself Drugs, Wrecked Government Vehicle While Drunk5 hours ago
  • Kanye WestKanye West Praises Trump: ‘We Are Both Dragon Energy’6 hours ago
  • kevCharlie Hunnam, Debbie Lesko, Press Freedom, Peter Thiel, Joy Reid, Mark Zuckerberg: HOT LINKS7 hours ago
  • teethD.C. Dentist Fixes Gay Hate Crime Victim’s Teeth for Free8 hours ago
  • Trump Offered to Fly Thomas Roberts and Husband Home from Moscow on ‘Pee Tape’ Weekend9 hours ago
  • Memories PizzaIndiana’s Anti-Gay ‘Memories Pizza’ is Now a Memory10 hours ago
  • Joy ReidPFLAG Rescinds Award for Joy Reid After New Anti-Gay Blog Posts Surface That the MSNBC Host Says Were ‘Fabricated’11 hours ago
  • ronny jackson obese trumpTrump VA Pick Ronny Jackson Drunkenly Banged on Hotel Door of Female Employee During Overseas Trip: REPORT12 hours ago
  • Matt and Dan Say Goodbye to a Mutual Friend on His Deathbed: WATCH12 hours ago
  • Maxine WatersRep. Maxine Waters Urges Trump: ‘Please Resign…Just Get Out’12 hours ago
  • Damian Lewis is Unrecognizable as Anti-Gay Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in ‘Run This Town’13 hours ago
  • tales of the cityNetflix Confirms 10-Episode ‘Tales of the City’ Sequel is on the Way, with Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Ellen Page13 hours ago
  • mickey mouse rainbow loveDisney Parks Releases Limited Edition Mickey Mouse Rainbow Love Pride Ears: VIDEO14 hours ago
  • karamo brownQueer Eye’s Karamo Brown Sounds Off on Antoni’s Thirst Trap Photo Shoot, Shania Twain’s Trump Views: WATCH1 day ago
  • cops ice creamTwo Cops Share an Ice Cream Cone: WATCH1 day ago
  • runssmGarlic Bread, Tom Hardy, Takedown Rules, Kanye West, Golfing While Black, Amazon Key, Ariana Grande: HOT LINKS1 day ago
  • Chris Evans Knows His Gay Brother Scott Very Well, and Vice-Versa: WATCH1 day ago
  • jonathan karl trump stupid questionABC News’ Jonathan Karl Gets Under Trump’s Skin with ‘Stupid Question’ About Michael Cohen Pardon: WATCH1 day ago

You Might Also Like

  • transfers playNew York In ‘Transfers,’ a Shot at Privilege Means Reckoning with Stacked Odds: REVIEW
  • cynthia nixon governorgay marriage Marriage Equality Advocates Call Out Cynthia Nixon for Flip-Flop in Praise for Cuomo
  • cynthia nixon stephen colbertNew York Cynthia Nixon Zaps ‘Bad Cuomo’ in Colbert Interview: ‘Put Some Ointment on That Burn!’
  • New York Time’s Up? Not So Fast: ‘Carousel’ Is Back on Broadway: REVIEW
  • Peter HujarNew York You’ve Got About a Month Left to See This Stunning Gay Photo Exhibit in NYC
  • New York In ‘Three Tall Women’ and ‘Yerma,’ Stunning Portraits of Women on the Verge: REVIEW

Latest Posts

  • Martina Navratilova Blasts NYC’s ‘Cruel’ Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry After Anti-Gay, Racist Incident: VIDEO

    New details have emerged about Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, the White House physician Trump has picked to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, the NYT reports: A nurse on his staff said Dr. Jackson had written himself prescriptions, and when caught,…
    Read

  • Martina Navratilova Blasts NYC’s ‘Cruel’ Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry After Anti-Gay, Racist Incident: VIDEO

    Rapper Kanye West praised Donald Trump on Wednesday following several days of headlines about his support for the 45th president. Tweeted West: “You don’t have to agree with trump but the mob can’t make me not love him. We are both…
    Read

  • Martina Navratilova Blasts NYC’s ‘Cruel’ Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry After Anti-Gay, Racist Incident: VIDEO

    BAD LIP READING. Mark Zuckerberg, masterfully done. PRESS FREEDOM. U.S. drops to #45 in ranking of 180 countries around the world. “The United States, the country of the First Amendment, has fallen again in the Index under Donald Trump, this ti…
    Read

  • Martina Navratilova Blasts NYC’s ‘Cruel’ Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry After Anti-Gay, Racist Incident: VIDEO

    Zach Link, a D.C. man who was brutally attacked with another man in an anti-gay hate crime by three assailants on U Street earlier this month, is smiling again after a local dentist fixed his broken teeth for free, FOX5 reports: “Link had a bro…
    Read

  • Martina Navratilova Blasts NYC’s ‘Cruel’ Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry After Anti-Gay, Racist Incident: VIDEO

    Former NBC anchor Thomas Roberts provides more proof that Trump lied to fired former FBI Director James Comey about not spending the night in Moscow on the weekend, according to the infamous Steele dossier, he allegedly watched sex workers pee on eac…
    Read

  • Memories Pizza

    Indiana’s Anti-Gay ‘Memories Pizza’ is Now a Memory

    You remember Memories, Pizza, the bigoted Walkerton, Indiana pizza joint that made national news after Governor Mike Pence signed Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act in March 2015? Memories is now a memory. The business has shuttered. I…
    Read

  • Memories Pizza

    Martina Navratilova Blasts NYC’s ‘Cruel’ Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry After Anti-Gay, Racist Incident: VIDEO

    PFLAG National rescinded its “Straight for Equality” award to MSNBC political analyst Joy Reid after new allegations of homophobic blog posts surfaced this week. Reid claims that her blog was hacked. The new posts were allegedly discovere…
    Read

  • ronny jackson obese trump

    Trump VA Pick Ronny Jackson Drunkenly Banged on Hotel Door of Female Employee During Overseas Trip: REPORT

    White House physician Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, drunkenly banged on the hotel door of a female employee during an overseas trip with President Obama in 2015, CNN reports: The incident beca…
    Read

  • Matt and Dan Say Goodbye to a Mutual Friend on His Deathbed: WATCH

    What would you say to a close friend who is on his deathbed? Well, if you’re Matt or Dan, it turns out you’d have quite a lot to say. ALSO: Matt and Dan Talk About the Sex They Just Had It’s the farewell to this season of their web…
    Read

  • Martina Navratilova Blasts NYC’s ‘Cruel’ Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry After Anti-Gay, Racist Incident: VIDEO

    At last night’s TIME 100 gala, vocal Trump critic Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) was asked what advice she would give to the president. She didn’t mince words. Said Waters: “Please resign. So that I won’t have to keep up this fight of yo…
    Read

Most Commented

Hot Reads

  • America’s Top Crime Family: The Trumps
  • High Stakes for LGBTQ Equality in the Anti-Gay Baker Case at the Supreme Court
  • State Department ‘Deeply Disturbed’ by Reports of Detention, Torture, and Murder of Gay Men in Chechnya
  • Anti-Gay Pastor Who Said Orlando Victims ‘Got What They Deserved’ Guilty of Sexually Molesting Boy and Girl
  • Neil Gorsuch is Trump’s Terrible, No Good Nominee for the Supreme Court: An Analysis
  • 2017 Resolutions All Gay Men Should Consider
  • Comedian Eric Andre: The Gay Interview

Today's News

Jump To Day: Choose
  • Trump VA Pick Ronny Jackson Prescribed Himself Drugs, Wrecked Government Vehicle While Drunk
  • Kanye West Praises Trump: ‘We Are Both Dragon Energy’
  • Charlie Hunnam, Debbie Lesko, Press Freedom, Peter Thiel, Joy Reid, Mark Zuckerberg: HOT LINKS
  • D.C. Dentist Fixes Gay Hate Crime Victim’s Teeth for Free
  • Trump Offered to Fly Thomas Roberts and Husband Home from Moscow on ‘Pee Tape’ Weekend
  • Indiana’s Anti-Gay ‘Memories Pizza’ is Now a Memory
  • PFLAG Rescinds Award for Joy Reid After New Anti-Gay Blog Posts Surface That the MSNBC Host Says Were ‘Fabricated’
  • Trump VA Pick Ronny Jackson Drunkenly Banged on Hotel Door of Female Employee During Overseas Trip: REPORT
  • Matt and Dan Say Goodbye to a Mutual Friend on His Deathbed: WATCH
  • Rep. Maxine Waters Urges Trump: ‘Please Resign…Just Get Out’
  • Damian Lewis is Unrecognizable as Anti-Gay Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in ‘Run This Town’
  • Netflix Confirms 10-Episode ‘Tales of the City’ Sequel is on the Way, with Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Ellen Page
  • Disney Parks Releases Limited Edition Mickey Mouse Rainbow Love Pride Ears: VIDEO
  • Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown Sounds Off on Antoni’s Thirst Trap Photo Shoot, Shania Twain’s Trump Views: WATCH
  • Two Cops Share an Ice Cream Cone: WATCH

Share This

Share3.3k Like3.3k

Read

  • Politics
  • Travel
  • Film
  • Theatre
  • Television
  • Science
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Contributors
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us

© 2014 Towleroad. All Rights Reserved.