Taxi drivers in The Hague refused to take 'drag queens' with them. According to the AD, Ben Manuputty, organizer of The Hague Pride held last week, wants to talk to taxi companies to expose the problem.
According to the report in the magazine Passenger Transport Magazine, Manuputty is based on an incident that occurred last weekend after the closing party of The Hague Pride. Two prominent visitors to the LGBTI event, the drag queens Kristel Jongman and Rose Garden, tried to take a taxi at the stand on Jan Hendrikstraat.
At the time, six taxis were waiting, but all drivers refused to take the 'ladies' without giving them a reason. Pride visitors, dressed in lavish women's clothing, had no choice but to walk to their hotel. In their high heels in the middle of the night, that was an uncomfortable one-hour walk.
Although the incident occurred a week ago, Manuputty wants to bring it out as the organizer of the Pride. "The drag queens had already told me on Monday and did not want to publicize it themselves," he says. “I myself was too busy with the settlement of the event, there was still a lot to be arranged because parts of the Pride were canceled at the last minute due to the bad weather. Because I was not feeling well, I decided to write an open letter to all taxi companies in The Hague this weekend. ''
It is not known which exchanges are connected to the taxis that refused the lavishly dressed customers. "It doesn't really matter directly," says Manuputty. “I would like to discuss this with all taxi companies and drivers myself. Maybe an addition to the taxi protocol should be made, because it is not the first time that these people have been refused. ''
HTMC Taxicentrale was the first to respond from the taxi world in The Hague. The company emphasizes that it transports everyone, regardless of origin or nature. "In case of complaints, the drivers are addressed immediately, so we immediately start talking to Ben Manuputty," said the HTMC. The councilors Ralf Sluijs (Hart voor Den Haag / Groep de Mos) and Maarten De Vuyst (GroenLinks) have already indicated that they are taking the matter to court.
