Raleigh same-sex couple says Uber driver discriminated

Ashcraft and his same-sex partner got into an Uber vehicle in downtown Raleigh on Saturday, and he said the ride started off normally.

“After my partner put his arm around me, the cab driver looked into the rearview mirror and flipped out on us,” he said. “Slurs were thrown. (He) told us we were not welcome in his cab.”

The driver threw the men out of his vehicle.

Police were called.

Tensions eventually settled, but Ashcraft said he remains shaken by the experience.

"It is not like we were doing anything inappropriate or bad, we were just being ourselves," he said.

The couple contacted Uber about the experience.

"Our rider should have never had to go through such a hurtful experience,” the ride-sharing company said in a statement. “This driver's behavior is unacceptable and clearly violates Uber's zero-tolerance discrimination policy."

The company added that the driver, whom they did not identify, has been removed.

Ashcraft said he appreciates Uber’s response but suggested they better screen their drivers in the future.