Traffic lights in Vienna go gay or straight

Some Vienna pedestrian traffic lights are suddenly not only red or green. They’re also gay or straight.

Traffic lights in Vienna are gender neutral. Image by Martin Fisch / CC BY-SA 2.0

The city has started setting up lights at pedestrian crossings that show pairs of figures instead of the usual stick men. Some show a man and a woman. Others, two women. Still others, two men. All couples are complete with hearts.

The lights are being erected at 47 crossings and will stay up until June. Vienna hosts several events linked to tolerance during that time, including the Eurovision Song Contest and the Life Ball, Europe’s biggest charity event for AIDS and HIV research.

(Press Association)