Utah Okays Gay-positive License Plate
Dateline: July 2005
Calling the action a win for free speech, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah applauded that state's tax commission's recent decision to, for the first time, approve personalized license plates with gay-positive messages. The decision came only after the ACLU appealed an earlier denial of three such plates.
In December 2004, Elizabeth Solomon applied for three personalized license plates: "GAY WE GO," "GAYS R OK," and "GAY RYTS." The Commission approved the "GAY WE GO" plate but denied the application for the latter two plates.
The ACLU of Utah represented Solomon in appealing the decision.
"I have kids who are gay and I wanted these plates so that I could publicly express support for my children," said Solomon in a press release, explaining why she applied for the personalized plates. "I?m delighted that I will now be able to do so."
Margaret Plane, ACLU of Utah staff attorney, was pleased by the Tax Commission?s decision.
"Too often, public officials are scared by the word ?gay? and they refuse to recognize that gays and lesbians are an increasingly public and positive part of our communities," said Plane. "The commission rightly recognized that their own rules don?t allow them to censor gay-positive messages like Mrs. Solomon?s."
Solomon will now be able to put any one of the personalized license plates on the cars she owns. "I want other drivers to read my plates and think about their gay relatives, neighbors, and peers; to quote my favorite button, ?Someone you care about is lesbian or gay,?" she said.
Calling the action a win for free speech, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah applauded that state's tax commission's recent decision to, for the first time, approve personalized license plates with gay-positive messages. The decision came only after the ACLU appealed an earlier denial of three such plates.
In December 2004, Elizabeth Solomon applied for three personalized license plates: "GAY WE GO," "GAYS R OK," and "GAY RYTS." The Commission approved the "GAY WE GO" plate but denied the application for the latter two plates.
The ACLU of Utah represented Solomon in appealing the decision.
"I have kids who are gay and I wanted these plates so that I could publicly express support for my children," said Solomon in a press release, explaining why she applied for the personalized plates. "I?m delighted that I will now be able to do so."
Margaret Plane, ACLU of Utah staff attorney, was pleased by the Tax Commission?s decision.
"Too often, public officials are scared by the word ?gay? and they refuse to recognize that gays and lesbians are an increasingly public and positive part of our communities," said Plane. "The commission rightly recognized that their own rules don?t allow them to censor gay-positive messages like Mrs. Solomon?s."
Solomon will now be able to put any one of the personalized license plates on the cars she owns. "I want other drivers to read my plates and think about their gay relatives, neighbors, and peers; to quote my favorite button, ?Someone you care about is lesbian or gay,?" she said.