Cherished Number Plates News

'POOFTER' Number Plates Banned

16 October 2008

A gay man in the US state of Virginia may be forced to remove his car number plates because they spell out the word 'poofter.' which has been claimed to be offensive.

David Phillips has had the plates for eleven years, and has complained that the word is only offensive to English people and Virginians would not understand its meaning. According to a regional paper, the Washington Post, he first heard the word used by performer Boy George in a TV interview and liked it. He then went about buying the number plate which he has treasured for over a year.

"It's just an amusing word that I self-identify with," he told the Post.

But the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has ordered Mr Phillips to remove the poofter number plates because they are offensive.

In April 2006, it was reported that a number plate had been withdrawn by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) after complaints by a leading gay MP.

Chris Byrant felt that plate H8 GAY was offensive to gay people and ensured that it was removed and not reissued.