Trans female MTA bus driver 'attacked in the women's locker room'

Moment MTA worker slaps phone out of trans bus driver’s hand for recording her in the women’s locker room after telling her to use the men’s bathroom

• A hate crime charge has been filed against an MTA bus operator after a driver who is transgender reported being assaulted in women’s locker room
• Nana Mangual, the transgender driver, is speaking out about her experience in hope that the MTA will take steps to ensure equality for LGBTQ employees
• Mangual says fellow bus operator Sonia Rivera shouted for her to use the men’s locker room instead before appearing to slap the phone from her hand

A video captured the moment an New York City MTA worker slapped the phone out of a trans bus driver’s hand for recording her in the women’s locker room after telling her to use the men’s instead. 

Nana Mangual, who identifies as female but was born biologically male, videoed the alleged assault as she addressed fellow driver, Sonia Rivera, who had been shouting at her through the door of a bathroom stall while on shift at a Bronx bus depot.

Mangual claims Rivera berated her for listening to music in the shower before telling her she was in the wrong changing room. Mangual then filmed Rivera – who appeared to be adjusting her pants in the mirror before she realized she was on camera – slapping the phone from Mangual’s hand. 

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 since been filed against Rivera. She was arrested shortly after the incident which occurred in April at the Eastchester Bus Depot. 

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 being filmed 

‘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.

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.’

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

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.

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