Kissing girls kicked off bus...

[voivod]

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A transit agency chief apologized Wednesday to the families of two lesbian teenagers who were kicked off a bus when a passenger complained about them kissing each other.

After another passenger complained, the driver called them "sickos" and told them to "knock it off", US media reported.


One of the girls told television station KTVZ that her friend was upset by the driver so she gave her a hug.

He then stopped the bus along the street and forced them off.

"Removing the girls from the bus was not consistent with our policy," said TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen. "I want to reiterate that we welcome all riders on our system."

The 64-year-old bus driver will face disciplinary action for removing the two 14-year-old girls during a June 8 incident aboard his bus, TriMet officials said. But no details about the discipline were released.

The driver, an 11-year veteran, violated several agency procedures and policies, officials said.

The actions by the girls did not warrant being removed from the bus, and TriMet policy requires operators to call for assistance before removing any minors, TriMet said in a statement released Wednesday.

"TriMet sincerely apologizes to the girls and their families for this incident," Hansen said in the statement.

The mother of one of the girls, Ronnda Zezula, welcomed the apology.

"The only thing I had a problem with is they didn't really address why the driver broke those policies," Zezula said. "He knew it was wrong. He's been a driver for 11 years."

She also said she wished the agency had made the extent of the disciplinary action public to show it will not "be just a slap on the wrist."

Zezula said the family has been encouraged to consider a lawsuit, but they will "have to mull it over."

Melissa Chernaik, spokeswoman for Basic Rights Oregon, said the gay rights group has been in contact with Zezula and "we share the same set of concerns."

But Chernaik said the chief concern was that the girls were put in an unsafe situation.

"The fact that they were possibly singled out because they were two girls is obviously problematic," Chernaik said. "But the big issue is that teenagers were put at risk and they should not be. Keeping kids safe is really the problem, and it sounds like TriMet is dealing with that, as they should be."

[chefcraig]

Look, it's one thing to display one's affection for another appropriately, it's another to merely do it to impress or shock others. There once were things called dignity and decorum in society. One mourns the loss of both.

[willyum]

that's hot...

maybe i should run over and offer taxi service.

[ZachenFoot]

that's hot...

maybe i should run over and offer taxi service.

The girl on the left looks outrageously similar to a girl that goes to my school, who was in my 2/3 periods every day all year

[willy4pres]

I need better pictures before I weigh in on this subject, I require this in all my for-or-against lesbian based decisions.

[jimmy812]

I'm all for two girls kissing. But they were 14-years old.
And I agree, chef, dignity and decorum in society are both doing vanishing acts. The people and the times are rapidly changing.

Like the restaurant host told Ferris Bueller: "I weep for the future."

[loveevhsince79]

Look, it's one thing to display one's affection for another appropriately, it's another to merely do it to impress or shock others. There once were things called dignity and decorum in society. One mourns the loss of both.

Exactly. PDA's that go beyond holding hands and a quick kiss whether they are between a hetero or gay couple get to be a bit much for those around them hence the term, "Get a room".

[wham bam will rock]

"Chris Hansen is a cockblocker"

[SNIC]

I'm all for two girls kissing. But they were 14-years old.

14 years old!!! There dads need to spank them both.

Otherwise, if they were of age they could call me "daddy", and I would spank them.

[onefootoutthedoor]

"Chris Hansen is a cockblocker"

Oh man...

[ZachenFoot]

14 years old!!! There dads need to spank them both.

Otherwise, if they were of age they could call me "daddy", and I would spank them.

I could do it if they need someone to legally and daddy didn't want to

[FORD]

I guess it all depends on the context. The kiss in the photo above was probably done strictly for the cameras. There seems to be some dispute over what actually took place on the bus. If it was just a hug, or a hug and a short kiss, then it shouldn't be any big deal, and the fucking homophobes should get a life.

However, if there were some tongue wrestling, feeling up of breasts, etc. going on, then that's over the line of what's appropriate for public transportation. Regardless of the age or sexual orientation of the participants, I might add.

And if you're typing a response to this one-handed, SHAME ON YOU!! They're fucking 14 years old!!

Unless you're a minor yourself, and I know there's a few around here. In which cases, you really shouldn't be reading this sort of thing at all........

(OK that should be enough to legally cover my ass if Speedy Gonzales is snooping around VH Links.)

[voivod]

Umm, hey GUYS... That picture is a random image found on Google... I figured the thread was useless without pictures...

[G3fan]

I guess not being tacky is a thing of the past. A peck is one thing, but they way this is sounding it was probably the noisy, rude kind of behavior. I hate when people do that. It's worse than cell phone blabbermouths. And there's a term I'm sick of: homophobe. I have never in my life met someone who's afraid of gay people. Just because someone disagrees with something doesn't mean they're afraid of it. That's really getting old. Anyway, 14 years of age is a little too young to be kissing anyway, especially in public. And the parents seem to side with them. Where are we headed as a society these days?

[billy007]

And if you're typing a response to this one-handed, SHAME ON YOU!! They're fucking 14 years old!!

Hey, FORD:

FUCK YOU.

Signed,

Rick Allen