Alabama Will Recall Anti-Gay License Plate After Social Media Backlash

A personalized Alabama license plate featuring an anti-gay slur will be recalled by the state after images of it sparked a social media uproar.

As the Associated Press is reporting:

[Alabama] Revenue Department spokeswoman Amanda Collier says the license plate with the saying "NOHOMO" slipped past its three-member review panel. She says the state prohibits personalized tags with profane or vulgar messages.

The department became aware of the plate after a photograph of it on a black Mustang began circulating on social media Monday. Collier said Thursday that the car owner can appeal the decision.

Check out an image of the controversial plate as seen on Twitter below:

The plate also featured a pink ribbon tag, which is aimed at raising breast cancer awareness. Joy Blondheim, founder of the Joy To Life Foundation which created the image, told the Birmingham Business Journal that the message had "no connection" to her organization.

"We are extremely grateful for the support we have received through our car tag, and we, at the Joy to Life foundation, will continue our mission to serve women and men in need in Alabama," she added.

More from the AP:

The slang phrase "no homo" is used when the speaker does not want to appear gay.

The department became aware of the plate after a photograph of it on a black Mustang began circulating on social media Monday. Collier said Thursday that the car owner can appeal the decision.

In 2013, the NBA fined Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert $75,000 for using the same slur and cursing at a news conference.