A taxi driver was convicted of making a homophobic comment against a transgender person and the court sentenced him to 6 months in prison, suspended for 3 years. The case was taken to the audience of the Single-Member Criminal Court of Thessaloniki, following a complaint by the victim. The court found the 67-year-old accused guilty of insulting with racist characteristics, as it decided that the act was carried out with a motive of discrimination, due to the sexual orientation and gender of the offender.

According to the case file, the disputed incident took place in March 2022, during a route from Kamara to KTEL “Macedonia”. As the (today) 22-year-old victim complained, shortly before getting off at the intercity station to travel to the countryside, the 67-year-old driver asked him if he maintains a relationship with a girl, whom he had kissed earlier, getting into the taxi.

“He asked me the question because he has homophobic beliefs and couldn’t keep them to himself. He intended to insult me ​​because he saw me kissing the girl I’m in a relationship with and thought I was a girl too,” said the victim in his statement to the Police. Asking (and taking) the receipt from the driver, he then presented it to the police and thus the accused was identified.

When examined by EL.AS., the (today) 67-year-old denied the act, stressing that what was reported against him is untrue. “He mistakenly believed that I am a person with homophobic beliefs. I have transferred thousands of clients from every social class and there has never been a problem,” he apologized.