LGBT+ campaigners have criticized Taiwan’s Directorate General of Highways for banning vehicle license plates with the word ‘GAY’.
It is just one of 24 letter combinations that can’t be used because authorities see them as controversial or obscene. The list also includes prurient combinations ‘MAD’, ‘SEX’, ‘SLY’, ‘BAD’, ‘ASS’, ‘BUM’, and ‘BRA’.
Meanwhile it bans more innocent combinations like ‘CRY’, ‘CAT’, ‘ANT’, ‘PUG’ and ‘APE’. Likewise, ‘PUP’ is banned. However that seems to be because the directorate bans animal names, rather than because they are aware of the ‘pup’ fetish, particularly popular among younger gay and bi kinksters. Some people may want a ‘GAY’ plate In fact, the ban dates back to 2012.