The Directorate General of Highways is facing criticism from gay rights
groups for banning several letter combinations on vehicle license plates
which it deems to be sensitive or obscene, such as the word "GAY."

The controversy dates back to 2012, when the government decided to add an
extra letter to the two characters already present on registration plates due
to the increasing number of vehicles in the country.

It blacklisted 24 letter combinations at the time, which the government
deemed to be controversial.

These included "MAD," "SEX," "BAD," GAY," "BUM," and "APE."

Gay rights groups are now calling on the government to remove the
controversial blacklist, with the Taiwan Tong-Zhi Hotline Association saying
it makes no sense to ban such words, as it still helps paint a negative
connotation on those words.

While the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan says the ban is wholly
unjustified, and is questioning how terms like "CAT" and "CRY" can be on the
blacklist.