Poll:
Do you think the bus driver should have been fired for refusing to drop women off at planned parenthood?
A bus driver says he was fired for refusing to drive two women to a Planned Parenthood clinic in South Austin. The man now wants a jury to hear his case on the grounds of religious discrimination.
Ed Graning, 63, worked for CARTS, a public service which stands for the Capital Area Rural Transportation System.
According to his lawsuit, Graning was concerned that one of the women was about to have an abortion, an act that violates his Christian beliefs. Nowhere in the suit did it say what evidence he had of what they would do.
Planned Parenthood’s Austin CEO said he learned of the matter last week.
“It is unfortunate that anybody would put their own personal beliefs in the way of others accessing basic health care and making assumptions of what they are coming here to receive,” said Ken Lambrecht.
Lambrecht also said that abortions account for only five percent of the work at his clinic, and that most of the patients rely on public transportation to get there.
“The vast majority of our clients live paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “They come to us for pap smears, gynecology exams, birth control, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.”
CARTS serves 169 communities in nine counties around Austin. On Wednesday a spokesman issued a statement saying it was not their policy to comment on personnel matters.
“While others might make more of it, this is just about our expectation that our employees perform the duties they are hired for,” wrote David Marsh, CARTS.
Some riders agreed that CARTS operators are not there to question where passengers are going.
“For the driver to decide whether it is right or wrong for you to go and do whatever, well, he is not doing his or her job,” said passenger Betsy Nichols.
Graning’s lawsuit seeks compensation for distress. He is also seeking back pay, legal fees, and reinstatement.
