For a brief, shining moment in Indiana, LGBT folk and their allies could procure the very attractive license plates at right, simultaneously beautifying their cars and ensuring that the Indiana Youth Group receive a $25 state donation. No longer.

From The Bilerico Project:

Homophobic Republican state senators … originally tried to sneak in legislation during the session to target the LGBT youth group's plate but after community uproar decided not to pursue the attempt. Republican State Senate President Pro Tempore David Long told the Indianapolis Star he had found a new "solution" by demanding the BMV revoke the plate on contractual grounds.

And what were those? Apparently, Indiana legislators' gripe was that those purchasing the Indiana Youth Group license plates were given special preference for low plate numbers. This is bad and wrong, apparently. But here's the thing: Graig Lubsen, until recently the Communications Director for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, acknowledges that there's a long history in Indiana of giving non-profit donors low license plate numbers. It just wasn't an issue 'til the gays did likewise. But now the baby's being thrown out with the gaywater: the Greenways Foundation and the Indiana 4-H Groups, too, have been cited for giving out low plate numbers.

Incidentally, according to Bilerico:

The same legislators who sent the letter granted the Indianapolis Colts a license plate previously and specifically allowed them to give away low number plates.

Football! Also, and less incidentally: The Indiana Youth Group — which is one of the oldest and most well-organized LGBT youth groups in America (check out their website!) — had to apply several times and eventually sue to obtain the right to sell a plate at all. The resulting plate was available for two months.