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.
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.
Sunday, May 19 2013 2:00 PM EDT2013-05-19 18:00:39 GMT
President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of soggy graduates and guests at Morehouse College's spring commencement ceremony on Sunday.
President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of soggy graduates and guests at Morehouse College's spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, telling graduates to take the power of their example-- as black men graduating from college-- and use it to improve people's lives.
Sunday, May 19 2013 1:53 PM EDT2013-05-19 17:53:40 GMT
President Barack Obama addressed graduates at Morehouse College's commencement ceremony in Atlanta on Sunday.
President Barack Obama addressed graduates at Morehouse College's commencement ceremony in Atlanta on Sunday, marking the first time a sitting president has made a commencement address in Georgia since 1938. See photos from his visit to Atlanta here!
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:09 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:09:05 GMT
They say you can't win if you don't play, and thousands of people are. The jackpot for Saturday night's Powerball drawing is an estimated $600 million, giving many a bad case of lottery fever.
They say you can't win if you don't play, and thousands of people are. The jackpot for Saturday night's Powerball drawing is an estimated $600 million, giving many a bad case of lottery fever.
