Uber offers free rides to and from LGBT venues this weekend in wake of Orlando mass shooting
Taxi-hailing app Uber is offering free rides to and from LGBT venues in cities across the US.
Free rides will be available from Friday to midnight on Monday in various cities across the US.
As well as offering the free rides, Uber encouraged users to donate money to funds in support of the community in Orlando, and the families of the victims.
The free rides offer, which is limited to two per person, lets users travel to an approved list of venues and LGBT organisations.
A statement on the Uber website reads: “Like people across the world, we were deeply shocked and saddened by the recent murders at a gay nightclub in Orlando. The world is a brighter and better place when we are all free to be ourselves. And we want to bring people together, no matter who you are or where you’re from.”
40 cities across the US have the free ride offer where a $20 discount is applied automatically when travelling to or from certain spots.
This latest statement from Uber comes after various drivers for the company have been suspended for refusing to drive same-sex couples.
Two women were allegedly subjected to homophobic abuse earlier this year and physical threats by their Uber driver.
Earlier this year, Uber suspended a London driver who attempted to eject a lesbian couple from his car for kissing, while another Uber driver subjected a London passenger to an anti-gay rant.
Last year, PinkNews exclusively revealed that a London Uber driver had been suspended – after kicking out a gay passenger because of his sexuality.
The offer comes in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting at the Orlando Pulse nightclub in which 49 people died and 53 were injured.
49 people were killed and 53 injured on Sunday in the shocking terrorist hate crime attack, which saw a gunman open fire inside The Pulse gay bar in Orlando, Florida.
ISIS has since claimed responsibility for the attack, which was perpetrated by US citizen Omar Mateen. The majority of the victims were Latino.
In a statement, President Obama mourned the victims of the homophobic hate crime attack and called for greater restrictions on arms sales.
In response, Republican nominee Donald Trump said Obama should resign for failing to rally against Islam in his comments.
The attack has been condemned by American Muslim leaders, who addressed ISIS in saying: “You do not speak for us.”
But millions of people around the world have showed solidarity with the victims of the shooting and the community in Orlando,
Earlier this week, a threat was posted to Craigslist in San Diego, praising the shooting in Orlando, and reading: “San Diego, you’re next”.
Two US Marines are also being investigated for posting a photo with an assault rifle with the caption “Coming to a gay bar near you” on Facebook.
