March 3, 2010

Vegas Taxi Authority Manual Lists Gay Men as “High Risk”

The Las Vegas Taxi Authority (TA)—which monitors thousands of cabs in the city—is distributing a policy manual to officers listing homosexuals alongside intravenous drug users and sex workers as “persons of high-risk groups” for communicable diseases, such as HIV and other blood-borne illnesses, lasvegasnow.com reports. The policy, which can be read here, says that TA officers should wear protective gear and gloves when bringing a high-risk suspect into custody.

According to the article, several area law enforcement agencies—including the Nevada Highway Patrol, the University of Nevada, the Las Vegas Police, the Henderson Police and the North Las Vegas Police—have removed this language from their policies. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is in the process of doing so.

While the TA approved a new policy manual in 2007 that removes the stigmatizing language, the agency continues to distribute the outdated version.

“It is medically, politically and socially unacceptable now,” said Nevada Equal Rights Commissioner and longtime gay rights activist Lee Plotkin. “Does this mean Elton John couldn’t get a cab to Caesars Palace? It’s just ridiculous. I hope the TA takes the appropriate action.”

An unnamed TA officer said the antigay policy is typical of intolerance within the agency regarding sexual orientation and race. “The environment in the TA is awful,” the officer said. “It’s been brought to the chief investigator’s desk, and the administrator, and nothing has been done. Nothing.”

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Previous Comments:

Larry Diax, San Antonio, 2010-03-06 01:24:48
I agree with Edwin from Berlin, this is an HIV issue, not a gay issue.

Andy, , 2010-03-05 10:45:39
OK. are gay men going to do something to force the change? The taxi industry in Vegas is certainly dependent on tourist. Threaten a boycott, especially if there are large gay-focused conventions coming up, and I bet they pull the old manuals.

Pandora, , 2010-03-04 20:03:17
Yep, it's hard not to notice the point of the article; gay men only get pissed when THEY'RE being treated like diseased pariahs. God forbid Elton John be treated as a lesser human being, like a prostitute or IV drug user. Then again, I expect little else from the gay men's community. If you ain't one of them, who cares?

chris, Phoenix, 2010-03-04 16:56:18
As a former corrections officer and corrections administrator for 20+ years I recall when the medical staff and escorting officers would notify other employees of an inmates health status even when they were not in any danger of exposure. What is happening in Las Vegas is an education issue regarding communicable diseases. AZ DOC did a great job training staff and educating inmates to rid the fear/phobia of getting TB, HIV, HEP C. The same needs to be done with the LVTA. Wake up LV!

4blokes, Key West, 2010-03-04 16:19:16
Hello! Has anyone seen TAXICAB CONFESSIONS on HBO? The most interesting fares a cabbie gets are the gay, sex-worker and drunk and drugged folks.

Greg747, Patchogue, NY, 2010-03-04 16:19:15
Is this for real? Three of us in our office, an HIV/AIDS non-profit, all read the article twice, laughed, and generally don't believe it's true. If it is true, then these cavemen need some learnin'! OMG - the poor Mayor of LAS must be losing his mind - Vegas desperately wants Gay tourism and the pink dollar, then these morons at the TA say what? So, again, please tell me this is a hoax, or a typo. It's 2010, folks, get a grip. And where the hell is ACT-UP these days! Fight Back!

wes, , 2010-03-04 15:40:02
Simple, Boycott the Taxi's in Vegas as much as possible. Rent Cars, take the monirail, walk, use busses...The gay tourist is important to LV and the city should put pressure to remove or reduce this.

michael, , 2010-03-04 14:28:04
I have always thought that Las Vegas was a screwed up place that pushes all addictive behaviors. The fact they listed Gays in their "book" is pathetic, un minformed, ignorant idiots. You guys really are experts at addressing your shortage of business.....I gaurantee you'll lose a lot more now.....GOOD LUCK YOU DOPES.

Trish, Kansas City, 2010-03-04 11:06:26
Edwin, you do bring up a good point that it's "about HIV phobia." Even though gay men, SW & IDU's are at high risk of contracting HIV, these officers should be using precautions with everyone they come in contact with and not just a few subset of folks. I submit that any breathing human being can have HIV. It is, after all, "Human Immunodeficiency Virus" with emphasis on "HUMAN." HIV is everyone's problem, and this is just another stigmatizing factor with the language they are using. For shame!

Edwin J Bernard, Berlin, Germany, 2010-03-04 03:00:18
I think this piece, and the original article, is completely missing the point. The issue is that law enforcement, including peace officers like those working for the LVTA, irrationally fear occupational exposure to HIV and believe they can contract it by spitting (impossible) or biting/scratching (an infinitessimally remote possiblity - no occupational exposure to a bite or scratch has ever resulted in HIV infection). This is not about gay vs SW vs IDU discrimination. It's about HIV phobia.