Minneapolis Bus Driver Can Avoid Busses With Offensive Ad

The McClatchy Newspapers yesterday reported on a decision by Minneapolis (MN) transit officials to accommodate religious beliefs of a bus driver. The driver objected on religious grounds to an ad carried on some 25 of the city's 150 busses. The ad promotes a local magazine aimed at gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered readers. An internal memo by the Transit Authority gives the employee permission to refrain from driving any of the busses that carry the offensive ad. The decision is of particular interest in light of last month's decision by Minneapolis-St. Paul airport officials to accommodate Muslim cab drivers who object to transporting passengers who bring alcohol in the cab.