This article first appeared on The Telegraph:
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 end of several gay-friendly events.
But Maria Vassilakou, in charge of traffic issues in the local council, has said they will now remain. The state broadcaster ORF quoted her on Tuesday as saying they have already achieved cult status. The new lights were installed in time for the Eurovision Song Contest, due to be held in Vienna later this month. The contest has become a showcase for sexual tolerance after it was won last year by Conchita Wurst, Austria’s “bearded lady”.
The Right-wing Freedom Party said it will lodge a criminal complaint against Ms Vassilakou for allegedly contravening traffic regulations and wasting taxpayers’ money at a cost of 63,000 euros (£45,000.) But a Facebook page calling for them to be kept has gathered more than 20,000 likes.
