Georgia Clears Roadblock to Gay-Related License Plates

A legal settlement and new rules regarding vanity plates will let drivers show their pride.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

June 07 2013 9:30 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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The state of Georgia has OK'd a legal settlement that will allow an Atlanta resident to get license plates reading "GAYPWR" and reform the guidelines state officials use in approving or denying vanity plates.

Cyrus Gilbert filed suit in January against the Georgia Department of Driver Services, which had turned down his requests for "GAYPWR," "GAYGUY," and "4GAYLIB" license plates. Wednesday's settlement, along with an emergency ruling on vanity plates, will allow Gilbert to get his plates July 9, the Georgia Voice reports.

The new rules on vanity plates will not become final until then, and it's still uncertain exactly what words or phrases will or won't be allowed, notes ProjectQ Atlanta. The state is taking public comment on the guidelines in the interim.