Exclusive: London Uber driver suspended for claiming ‘no gays allowed’

PinkNews Exclusive
A London Uber driver has been suspended – after kicking out a gay passenger because of his sexuality.

Neil Shah had been enjoying a night out in Soho – but on his way home with friends, was ordered out of an Uber taxi after holding hands and kissing in the back of the car.

Mr Shah told PinkNews: “I got an Uber home last night from a fun night with friends in Soho.

(Photo: Neil Shah)

“My friend and I were holding hands and I leant over to kiss him. The driver said ‘no gays, no kissing’, stopped the car and told us to get out. We were shocked but got out of the car.

“I contacted Uber and they have barred the driver from the platform and refunded the fare.

“My friend and I were extremely upset by this. I don’t feel it’s fair or right to have our safety or rights compromised like this.”

An Uber spokesperson told PinkNews: “This incident is hugely disappointing as Uber celebrates diversity.

“As a company we do not tolerate any form of discrimination whatsoever, and we instil this ethos with our partner drivers. We have been in contact with this rider to offer our full support.

“Uber prides itself on providing the highest quality, safest and most convenient service, so we take any incident where we fall short very seriously.

“In all serious incidences, such as this, we suspend the driver in question while we investigate.”

It is not the first such incident involving an Uber driver.

A separate couple, Corey Watts and his boyfriend Jordan Sloan, said in January that they were kicked out an Uber after they kissed.

Corey Watts and Jordan Sloan

The same week, another couple were told by an Uber driver that it “was against the Uber rules” for them to hug – and were subjected to homophobic comments.

Uber said at the time that both drivers were suspended.