A Portland, Oregon cab driver who kicked out a lesbian couple and
a friend and left them on the side of a busy freeway at midnight has
lost his license.
According
to KGW, the City of Portland Regulatory Division said Wednesday
that it had permanently revoked the license of Ahmed Egal because he
had failed to safely get his riders to their destination.
Kate Neal claims that Egal told them “You can't be gay in my
cab.”
“I was initially shocked,” Kate
Neal told KOIN. “This is Portland.”
Neal
told NWCN that she, her partner, Shankako Devoll, and a friend
were also kicked out of a second cab operated by Broadway Cab after
the second cab driver spoke with Egal.
The women eventually flagged down a police officer, who escorted
them home.
Egal, however, disputed their claims, saying that he stopped the
car and called 911 because the women were being abusive.
The city said that discrimination was not a factor in the
decision. Broadway Cab was fined $1,000.