During the Friday night National Women’s Soccer League match at Providence Park, four women—two lesbians and two bisexual women—were removed from a Lyft ride after the driver accused them of being “anti‑trans agitators.” The women, all over 50, had been attending the Portland Thorns game wearing “Save Women’s Sports” shirts and holding a sign supporting women’s athletics.
Incident at the stadium
Julie Lane, a Bay Area resident, was struck by a fan and fell several rows of seats. Security later escorted Lane and the other three women from the stadium. After being picked up by the Lyft driver, the driver asked, “Are you the ladies from the news?” When Linda Serbu answered affirmatively, the driver pulled over and told the group to exit the vehicle, stating, “It’s my own private car, and I can cancel any ride I want to, and you don’t belong in my car.” The driver also loaded Serbu’s walker into the trunk.
Rider response and Lyft’s action
Lane refused to leave, arguing that she had paid for the ride and felt unsafe being abandoned in a “dark corner of Portland.” She later called the police, and the driver reported the women as trespassers. The driver posted on Reddit, labeling the group “anti‑trans agitators.” Lane welcomed police involvement but no officers arrived before the driver left.
After the incident, the women secured an Uber ride to their destination. Lane later discovered that Lyft had deactivated her account while she was awaiting another ride. Lyft responded to OutKick, stating, “Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected on the Lyft platform, and discrimination of any kind has no place in our community. Our Safety team was in contact with both the rider and the driver involved and we are continuing to review the incident.”
Potential city code violation
Portland city code Section 16.40.280(C)(13) prohibits rideshare drivers from refusing to transport passengers of “proper demeanor” to destinations within the city after accepting a ride. The driver’s actions may therefore be a violation of local regulations.
Community reaction
Witnesses reported continued hostility toward the women after they left the stadium, with boos and gestures from some Thorns fans. The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding gender‑affirming issues and the treatment of supporters of women’s sports in public spaces.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
