THE BRONX (PIX11) — An MTA bus operator has been charged with assault and a hate crime after a fellow bus operator who is transgender said she was attacked inside a women’s locker room at a bus depot in the Bronx.

The transgender bus operator is speaking out about her ordeal, hoping the MTA will make changes to ensure equality for LGBTQ employees.

Nana Mangual said the MTA is trying to fire her after she was the victim of an assault at her workplace.

“I couldn’t get this trauma incident out of my head,” Mangual said.

There is a reported cellphone video from an incident inside a women’s locker room at the Eastchester Bus Depot about two months ago.

Mangual said after she finished taking a shower, she began to get dressed, and that’s when she alleged a fellow bus operator, Sonia Rivera, went on a verbal attack before it became physical. Mangual said her cellphone was knocked out of her hands and Rivera hit her.

“She told me I need to use the men’s room. When she realized I was recording, she turned around and physically attacked me,” Mangual said.

Police arrested Rivera, who is a longtime employee with the MTA. She now faces several charges, including harassment, harassment as a hate crime, and assault.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the MTA said:

The MTA does not tolerate violence or discrimination of any kind in the workplace and takes allegations of this nature very seriously. Given this matter is currently under investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.

MTA spokesperson

Mangual said she joined the MTA because she loves driving and loves being around people, but it has been a tough road.

“It was nerve-racking because I don’t see any transgender drivers. I was being discriminated against,” Mangual said. 

Mangual wants the MTA to offer better accommodations for transgender employees, including offering gender-neutral restrooms.

Since the incident, she has been unable to return to work. She said she has PTSD, and the MTA is not helping her with medical leave claims. It has also been a challenge getting worker’s compensation.

PIX11 News asked the MTA if it would consider offering gender-neutral facilities for its employees. The spokesperson said to refer to their previous statement.