An Atlanta man is suing the Georgia Department of Driver Services claiming that his rights were violated after his application for a vanity plate that refers to his sexual orientation was rejected.
Cyrus Gilbert says he was stunned when he tried to get a personalized plate and was kept from doing so.
His three choices, "4GAYLIB," "GAYPWR," and "GAYGUY," were all denied.
"It infuriates me. Just because it's – why is my question. It's a very simple question but some people can't seem to answer it," Gilbert said.
Cyrus and his attorney, Cynthia Counts, have filed a federal lawsuit against the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
Exhibit B of the lawsuit is a document of hundreds of banned tags.
"Certainly it violates free speech rights. These are social and political ideas. And even just facts: who you are. Gay man, virgin, and they're banning that. That's certainly not permissible under First Amendment. It's too restrictive," Counts said.
Counts and Gilbert say the process is arbitrary. For example, one driver's tag says "HOT Z", but "IMHOTT" is on the banned list.
"It's almost kind of like a pick and choose. They've allowed certain words and certain sayings, but then something that sounds almost the same exact, but maybe like different number or a different letter, they've banned," Gilbert said.
Gilbert said that he wants his personalized tag out of the lawsuit.
The GA Dept. of Driver Services has until the end of the month to respond.
FOX 5 called Driver Services for comment, but they referred us to the attorney general's office. That office said that they're not commenting because of the pending lawsuit.
Monday, May 20 2013 9:02 AM EDT2013-05-20 13:02:13 GMT
It's just hair—so why not share a little for a great cause? Monday marks the 7th Annual It's Just Hair Cut-a-Thon at the Taylor Brooks Salon in Alpharetta, and you can help!
It's just hair—so why not share a little for a great cause? Monday marks the 7th Annual It's Just Hair Cut-a-Thon at the Taylor Brooks Salon in Alpharetta, and you can help!
Monday, May 20 2013 8:25 AM EDT2013-05-20 12:25:27 GMT
It's the time of year when high school students are graduating and getting ready to begin their college years.
It's the time of year when high school students are graduating and getting ready to begin their college years. Twelve Gwinnett County seniors honored with the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship will go to college for free, and five of them are from Mountain View High School.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:24 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:24:30 GMT
Rising flood waters trapped horses inside a Sandy Springs stable on Sunday afternoon. Rescue teams were called to Summit Equestrian Solutions on River Run around 4 p.m.
Rising flood waters trapped horses inside a Sandy Springs stable on Sunday afternoon. Rescue teams were called to Summit Equestrian Solutions on River Run around 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:10 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:10:38 GMT
On a day filled with nasty storms and heavy rains, there is a bright spot. A Suwanee police officer is being credited with saving the life of a baby bunny that was swept away by flood waters.
On a day filled with nasty storms and heavy rains, there is a bright spot. A Suwanee police officer is being credited with saving the life of a baby bunny that was swept away by flood waters during Sunday's downpour.
