Amtrak Responds After Gay Couple and Their Kids Accosted by Passenger
Amtrak has issued a statement after an unruly passenger accosted a gay couple with their kids, reported KTLA.
Robbie Pierce and Neal Broverman were reportedly on an Amtrak train with their two foster kids last Tuesday when a stranger began yelling insults at the family of four.
"They stole you ... They're pedophiles ... They're rapists ... They're murderous ... They're an abomination," Pierce and Broverman both recall the man saying.
The verbal assault reportedly continued for several minutes before Amtrak employees were able to remove the man from the train in San Jose with the help of local sheriff's deputies. The man was not arrested and not identified.
Amtrak called the incident a "reprehensible act of hate" and plans to conduct a full investigation of the events.
"To ensure our customers feel valued and respected when riding our trains, we are conducting a full investigation on this incident. This includes potentially banning the customer from future Amtrak ridership," said Amtrak in a statement.
"When I stood up, I thought he might hit me," Pierce told KTLA. "He might have a weapon, but it was important to get him away from the kids at that moment."
Pierce and Broverman said their children were traumatized by the tirade and they hope telling their story will bring attention to the hatred and dangerous biases that still exist against LGBTQ families.
"I just wish we had a world where LGBT families could just ride the train and not be harassed," Pierce said.