Vienna installs gay crossing lights ahead of Eurovision
AS Vienna prepares for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, the city has changed its programmed pedestrian traffic light displays from the usual gender-neutral single fugue to male and female same-sex couples holding hands.
They even come with love hearts for the red and green lights.
Speaking with Reuters, a spokeswoman for Vienna’s city lighting department explained that “the campaign is intended to present Vienna as an open-minded city and also to improve traffic safety as the unusual symbols attract the attention of drivers and pedestrians”.
The city of Vienna will then collate data to see whether the campaign has indeed helped traffic safety.
The city will also be hosting a Life Ball charity event to raise money for HIV and AIDS charities, on Saturday, May 16.
They should include a toddler holding hands in the middle of lights.
Austria (not to be confused with Australia) LGBT profile and facts:
1. Marriage Equality: BANNED
2. Adoption equality: A Constitutional Court of Austria ruling back in January 2015, said it is unconstitutional to ban SSCs from adopting children. Currently SSCs have partial/step-child adoption rights since 2013.
3. Relationship Recognition: Registered Partnerships since 2010
4. Hate Crime Laws: NONE
5. Anti-Discrimination laws are at a provincial/state level and only some have listed sexual orientation.
6. Age of consent equal since 2002
7. Gay sex legal since 1971
Heidi Hirsto
Josh Caballero Annika Rigby Natasha Kiley Sean Flynn Jonathon Kilpatrick
And that’s why we love Vienna. Life Ball is on this weekend at the Vienna Town Hall. Now that is a spectacular party for a great cause.
so wanted to waltz in this one…sigh, TV it will be…
Rob Simms
Laurence
How oppressive!