gay plates

[briannell]

figured I'd see this in CA not Utah.

-rebecca


Utah woman can keep ‘GAYSROK’ license plate
Judge allows woman to keep another similar plate, ‘GAYRYTS’
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Updated: 2:44 a.m. ET July 28, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY - The state of Utah can’t block a woman from using her license plate to tell the world “GAYSROK,” a judge has ruled.

The state has no good reason to prevent Elizabeth Solomon from having that plate — which can be read “Gays are OK” or “Gays Rock” — or another one saying “GAYRYTS,” according to Jane Phan, an administrative law judge with the Utah State Tax Commission.

“The narrow issue before us is whether a reasonable person would believe the terms ‘gays are OK’ and ‘gay rights’ are, themselves, offensive to good taste and decency. It is the conclusion of the commission that a reasonable person would not,” Phan wrote.

The state can appeal the July 19 decision.

“We’re discussing it, and we have 30 days to do that,” Barry Conover, deputy director of the commission, which oversees Utah’s Department of Motor Vehicles, said Wednesday.

“It kind of opens up the door for all types of people who want to make a license plate a public forum, for every initiative,” he said.

Dani Eyer, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, which represented Solomon, countered: “The government can’t pick and choose what subjects it likes and does not like.”

Solomon, of Park City, on Wednesday said she considered the judge’s decision as a victory for her daughter, who is gay, and for two gay male friends.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[SonomaCat]

Actually, UT is probably one of the few states where this would even be questioned. I wonder how it came to pass that anyone made an issue of it in the first place and suggested that it might NOT be okay?

[iaafan]

I'm guessing briannell meant that it would be expected that Californians would have these kinds of plates.

My thought is that this gay rights issue will eventually go in the gay's favor. There were just as many, if not more, who were against civil rights back in the 50s and 60s.

[briannell]

I'm guessing briannell meant that it would be expected that Californians would have these kinds of plates

yes-because I'm from SF, figured there'd be alot worse. surprised it was so upsetting. and we've been on the gay right's thing lately, figured i'd toss this in, just to see the response it would get.

-rebecca

[Ponycat]

My thought is that this gay rights issue will eventually go in the gay's favor. There were just as many, if not more, who were against civil rights back in the 50s and 60s.

I couldn't disagree with you more on this statement (sorry to highjack the thread) but I think the violence and intimadation of people like the KKK just made it seem this way, in fact right after the civil war there were literally hundreds of blacks voted into political offices, all over the south but once the KKK started their B.S. and killing people, our spinless presidents of the time refused to send in troups to squash the KKK. If we would have had presidents with half the courage of Lincoln the civil rights movement would now be advanced by 100 years.

Not sure where I was going with that post, but I guess i just don't buy into the gay's struggle being similar to the blacks and/or native Americans. I know this may sound anti-gay which I am most certaninly not, I just think the blacks struggle for the most basic of freedoms has very little in common with the current struggle of gays.

['93HonoluluCat]

Actually, UT is probably one of the few states where this would even be questioned. I wonder how it came to pass that anyone made an issue of it in the first place and suggested that it might NOT be okay?

It offended someone--and isn't it wrong to offend anyone? Just kidding...I think.