A transgender New York City bus driver says she was attacked in the women’s locker room by a fellow worker while she was on shift at a bus depot in the Bronx.
Nana Mangual who had been driving for the MTA since last year claims the agency is now attempting to fire her since making her claim and has not made any accommodations for other LGBTQ staff members.
Mangual, who identifies as female but was born biologically male, videoed the alleged assault using her cellphone as she addressed co-worker, Sonia Rivera, who had been shouting at her through the door of a bathroom stall.
When Mangual went to confront Rivera, she smacked the cellphone out of Mangual’s hand once Rivera realized she was being filmed.
Mangual says she has been unable to return to work since the alleged assault claiming how she suffers from PTSD following the altercation. She is also accusing the MTA of trying to fire her from her position and refusing to approve workers compensation leave.
A hate crime charge has been filed against an MTA bus operator after driver, Nana Mangual, pictured, who is transgender reported being assaulted in women’s locker room
The alleged assault occurred after Mangual finished her shower when fellow bus operator Sonia Rivera, pictured here, launched a verbal attack that escalated and got physical
Rivera, pictured, was a longtime bus driver and alleged got physical with Mangual when she saw that she was bing filmed
A hate crime charge has since been filed against the Rivera who also worked as an MTA bus operator. She was arrested shortly after the incident which occurred in April at the Eastchester Bus Depot.
‘I couldn’t get this traumatic incident out of my mind. I was in disbelief and shock,’ Mangual said to PIX11.
‘I was listening to my gospel music and from the bathroom stall she screams “What the f*** is this? Turn that music off. This isn’t a disco, who the f*** do you think you are?” She told me I needed to use the men’s room. When she realized I was recording, she turned around and physically attacked me.’
Following Rivera’s arrest, multiple charges were filed against the long-standing MTA employee including harassment, harassment as a hate crime, and assault.
The alleged incident occurred at the Eastchester Depot in The Bronx, New York
Nana Mangual, the transgender bus driver is speaking out about her experience, in hope that the MTA will take steps to ensure equality for LGBTQ employees
In response to the incident, the MTA issued a statement:
‘The MTA does not tolerate violence or discrimination of any kind in the workplace and takes allegations of this nature very seriously. Given that this matter is currently under investigation, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.’
Mangual says she joined the MTA to work as a bus driver because she enjoys driving and being around people. But she notes her time with the agency has not been an easy ride.
‘It was nerve-racking because I don’t see any transgender drivers. I faced discrimination by being misgendered, being called ‘he’ when my pronouns are ‘she/her’,’ Mangual explained.
Mangual is now pushing for the MTA, which has more than 70,000 workers, to be more welcoming to transgender employees and provide basic amenities such as gender-neutral restrooms alongside education for existing employees.
