Drag Performer Says Jersey City Uber Driver Denied Ride, Raising Concerns Over LGBTQ+ Discrimination

A Jersey City drag performer named Harmonica Sunbeam has alleged that an Uber driver cancelled their ride and denied her entry to the vehicle after realizing they were in drag, raising concerns about possible discrimination against LGBTQ+ riders using app-based transportation services. According to the performer, who is known locally on the drag circuit, the encounter began like any other routine pickup on a recent night out in Jersey City’s downtown entertainment district.

The performer told local outlet TAPinto Jersey City that when the driver arrived, they appeared to readt to her appearance in full drag, including makeup, a wig, and performance attire. As she approached the vehicle and reached for the door handle, the driver abruptly pulled away and drove off. After speeding away, the driver cancelled the ride through the app moments after turning a corner. Sunbeam was left on the street at night and forced them to arrange alternative transportation.

The performer described the incident as frightening and discriminatory and said they reported the experience through Uber’s in-app complaint system, describing the situation as discriminatory treatment based on their gender expression. According to TAPinto Jersey City, the performer has not publicly disclosed their legal name or filed a formal legal complaint as of the time of reporting, but has shared their story to highlight what they describe as a pattern of mistreatment toward LGBTQ+ riders in app-based services.

Uber’s Community Guidelines state that drivers are prohibited from discriminating against riders on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and that such conduct can result in removal from the platform. In prior public statements about similar complaints, Uber has said that it “does not tolerate discrimination of any kind” and encourages users to report incidents through in-app tools so the company can investigate and take action as appropriate. In response to TAPinto Jersey City’s request for comment about this alleged incident, Uber reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination and indicated that it was reviewing the report.

Advocates note that while such policies exist on paper, riders can face uncertainty about what consequences, if any, individual drivers experience after a complaint, because companies typically do not share case-specific outcomes with passengers.

National LGBTQ+ legal organizations have documented recurring complaints from LGBTQ+ riders, including transgender people and drag performers, who report being denied rides, verbally harassed, or forced out of vehicles after drivers express discomfort with their gender presentation. While many of these complaints do not result in lawsuits, they contribute to a broader picture of barriers that LGBTQ+ people face in accessing safe and reliable transportation, particularly at night or after events.

In New Jersey, the Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation, which can include transportation services, on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Legal experts consulted by local media have said that app-based drivers can be subject to these protections when providing transportation to the general public, though whether any specific incident meets the legal definition of discrimination depends on the facts of the case and how courts interpret the law.

Jersey City is home to an active LGBTQ+ community and hosts multiple queer nightlife venues and drag events, especially around Newark Avenue and other downtown corridors. Local advocates say safe, reliable rides are critical for performers and attendees who often travel late at night in full drag or other expressive clothing.

Advocacy groups encourage riders who experience discrimination to document what happened as soon as possible, file in-app complaints, and, when they feel safe doing so, report potential violations to state or local civil rights agencies. Some organizations also recommend that ride-hailing companies expand training for drivers on serving LGBTQ+ passengers respectfully and transparently publish aggregate data about discrimination complaints and outcomes.

For the Jersey City performer, the immediate concern was personal safety and dignity. They told TAPinto Jersey City that being left on the street after the ride was cancelled felt like a reminder that even with policies on the books, LGBTQ+ people can still be made to feel like they do not belong in everyday spaces. The performer has continued to appear at local shows and says they hope that by speaking publicly, transportation companies and drivers will take LGBTQ+ inclusion and anti-discrimination commitments more seriously.