News (World)

Vienna’s gay-themed traffic lights to remain, says local official

The lights show couples — a man and a woman, two women or two men. Set up recently at 47 crossings, they were to be taken down in June, after the conclusion of several gay-friendly events.
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Vienna’s gay-themed traffic lights to remain, says local official
Street lights with same gender pairs, on display in downtown Vienna, Austria. The lights were set up by city officials until June, to coincide with a number of gay-friendly events.
Street lights with same gender pairs, on display in downtown Vienna, Austria. The lights were set up by city officials until June, to coincide with a number of gay-friendly events.

VIENNA — Vienna’s gay-themed pedestrian traffic lights are here to stay.

Instead of the usual stick man, the lights show couples — a man and a woman, two women or two men. Set up recently at 47 crossings, they were to be taken down in June, after the conclusion of several gay-friendly events.

But Vienna Councilwoman Maria Vassilakou, in charge of traffic issues, says they will now remain. State broadcaster ORF quoted her Tuesday as saying they have already achieved cult status.

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The right-wing Freedom Party says it will lodge a criminal complaint against Vassilakou for allegedly contravening traffic regulations and wasting taxpayers’ money at a cost of 63,000 euros ($70,000.)

But a Facebook page calling for them to be kept has gathered more than 20,000 likes.

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