To: Dan Hinds, President, Chris Hayashi, Assistant Director of Taxi Service SFMTA, The California State House, The California State Senate, and Governor Gavin Newsom
National Cab Company in San Francisco needs to take steps to end discrimination
While working at National Cab Company in San Francisco I was harassed, assaulted and had property damage to my vehicle as a result of a Dispatcher outing me at work. When I started at National Cab Company I was hired by a Transgender person. Dispatchers and drivers would make fun and make damaging remarks about the general manager who is transgender. I was afraid to tell anyone at the company that I was gay and have a partner. I told a lie—“I am straight and have a wife and three kids”—in fear that I would get the same type of treatment. About a year after working at National Cab Company on Mckinnon in San Francisco the word got out. The head dispatcher found out and called me on my cell phone in disbelief, saying, “I heard you are gay, is that true?” I responded yes. The conversation went on for almost 45 minutes. The lead dispatcher was upset with me for being gay. I was told by the lead dispatcher that I was no longer allowed to enter the office when he was on duty and that "things will change around there.” After that things did change.
• I lost my Friday Night shifts.
• The lead dispatcher told other drivers and management that I was gay.
• Comments of my sexuality were announced over the airwaves while dispatchers were working.
• One dispatcher sent me out to pick up one young man who requested a cab and would say to me “You’ll like this one” and “I know you swing that way.”
• I was just starting work one afternoon when a coworker called me a faggot and said “None of those faggots will vote for you.” The general manager, Jesus Portillo, was present during this incident, but he did not say or do anything in response to this harassment.
• On August 25, 2010, I arrived at work and walked up to the window. About 20 other drivers were present at the time. A cab driver started yelling at me and called me a faggot. He spit on me. Jesus Portillo (General Manager) was behind the window and could see and hear this, but he did not do or say anything. I called the police and filed a police report regarding the verbal and physical harassment from the cab driver. When the police arrived, Jesus Portillo came out of the office. He was yelling and appeared to be angry and disturbed. I told him that “This has got to stop.” However, he got upset with me for calling the police.
• I told Jesus Portillo, Dan Hinds, and Mike Murphy that I was going to get a restraining order against Michael Estrada. In the two weeks after I told them this, I faced constant harassment from Mike Murphy. Mike Murphy told me that if I filed a restraining order against Michael Estrada, he would have 20 guys file a restraining order against me and threatened to fire me.
• I complained to Jesus (General Manager). Jesus said “Can’t you girls get along?” and told me that I “need not report anything” to him, indicating that he is not interested in hearing about the harassment that goes on.
• Around this same time, I complained to SFMTA. I reported the harassment from Michael Estrada to Scott Leon and Chris Hiyashi at SFMTA.
• Following my complaint to SFMTA, I spoke with Dan Hinds and Jesus Portillo. During this conversation, Dan Hinds told me “You are the one causing problems.” I believe that he was referring to my sexual orientation as the cause of the problems. In addition, his solution to address the harassment involved is to fire all parties involved, instead of addressing the actual harassment.
• In the fall of 2010, Oliver, another driver, asked me “Are you gay?” and “Are you a faggot?” in an angry and threatening manner. He was right in my face. I did not report this event to Jesus because Jesus previously told me that I should not report any incidents to him.
• In January of 2011, I faced harassment from Seymour, another cab driver. Previously he and I had been friends. However, I believe that his attitude toward me changed after Michael Murphy told him about my sexual orientation. He sent me threatening texts while we were both on the job. He also texted me things like “I’m on my way back to Sissyland,” referring to San Francisco, and he told me “Don’t give me a fag ass guilt trip.”
• I reported these comments to Jesus. However Jesus did not address the harassment and said that Seymour shouldn’t get National Cab Co. involved in it.
• Since Michael Murphy learned I am gay until the time I was discharged, he constantly made threats toward me and questioned me, asking “Are you sure you’re gay?”
I have contacted the SFMTA division of taxi services to be aware of the practices at National Cab Company. To this date, two years later no provisions regarding discrimination have been added to lease agreements. I was terminated from employment and am unable to get another taxi driving job. We need to tell National Cab Company that it is not ok to treat people this way who are working to pay their bills. I have suffered abuse, assaults, and property damage just for being gay! Please sign this petition to send a message that the company policies sh...
• I lost my Friday Night shifts.
• The lead dispatcher told other drivers and management that I was gay.
• Comments of my sexuality were announced over the airwaves while dispatchers were working.
• One dispatcher sent me out to pick up one young man who requested a cab and would say to me “You’ll like this one” and “I know you swing that way.”
• I was just starting work one afternoon when a coworker called me a faggot and said “None of those faggots will vote for you.” The general manager, Jesus Portillo, was present during this incident, but he did not say or do anything in response to this harassment.
• On August 25, 2010, I arrived at work and walked up to the window. About 20 other drivers were present at the time. A cab driver started yelling at me and called me a faggot. He spit on me. Jesus Portillo (General Manager) was behind the window and could see and hear this, but he did not do or say anything. I called the police and filed a police report regarding the verbal and physical harassment from the cab driver. When the police arrived, Jesus Portillo came out of the office. He was yelling and appeared to be angry and disturbed. I told him that “This has got to stop.” However, he got upset with me for calling the police.
• I told Jesus Portillo, Dan Hinds, and Mike Murphy that I was going to get a restraining order against Michael Estrada. In the two weeks after I told them this, I faced constant harassment from Mike Murphy. Mike Murphy told me that if I filed a restraining order against Michael Estrada, he would have 20 guys file a restraining order against me and threatened to fire me.
• I complained to Jesus (General Manager). Jesus said “Can’t you girls get along?” and told me that I “need not report anything” to him, indicating that he is not interested in hearing about the harassment that goes on.
• Around this same time, I complained to SFMTA. I reported the harassment from Michael Estrada to Scott Leon and Chris Hiyashi at SFMTA.
• Following my complaint to SFMTA, I spoke with Dan Hinds and Jesus Portillo. During this conversation, Dan Hinds told me “You are the one causing problems.” I believe that he was referring to my sexual orientation as the cause of the problems. In addition, his solution to address the harassment involved is to fire all parties involved, instead of addressing the actual harassment.
• In the fall of 2010, Oliver, another driver, asked me “Are you gay?” and “Are you a faggot?” in an angry and threatening manner. He was right in my face. I did not report this event to Jesus because Jesus previously told me that I should not report any incidents to him.
• In January of 2011, I faced harassment from Seymour, another cab driver. Previously he and I had been friends. However, I believe that his attitude toward me changed after Michael Murphy told him about my sexual orientation. He sent me threatening texts while we were both on the job. He also texted me things like “I’m on my way back to Sissyland,” referring to San Francisco, and he told me “Don’t give me a fag ass guilt trip.”
• I reported these comments to Jesus. However Jesus did not address the harassment and said that Seymour shouldn’t get National Cab Co. involved in it.
• Since Michael Murphy learned I am gay until the time I was discharged, he constantly made threats toward me and questioned me, asking “Are you sure you’re gay?”
I have contacted the SFMTA division of taxi services to be aware of the practices at National Cab Company. To this date, two years later no provisions regarding discrimination have been added to lease agreements. I was terminated from employment and am unable to get another taxi driving job. We need to tell National Cab Company that it is not ok to treat people this way who are working to pay their bills. I have suffered abuse, assaults, and property damage just for being gay! Please sign this petition to send a message that the company policies sh...
Why is this important?
Please sign the petition to raise awareness and hopefully to create action to add additional protections to taxi drivers in San Francisco. I was harassed, assaulted, and had property damage done to my vehicle as a result of a dispatcher outing me to other cab drivers at National Cab Company in San Francisco. I brought it to the attention of President Dan Hinds at National Cab Company and was told that I am "the problem."