Motorists and pedestrians alike have had quite a surprise in Vienna this week. The city is taking a strong political stand for equality – and using its traffic lights to get the message across.
Dozens of traffic lights around the center of the historic city have replaced the traditional, gender-neutral stick figures at pedestrian crossings with lights that show pairs of figures. Some are of traditional couples, but others are adorned with images of two men or two women, complete with hearts.
The campaign is timed to coincide with several big events promoting tolerance, including the Life Ball, the largest charity event in Europe aimed at raising money for HIV and Aids research. The city also will host the annual Eurovision Song Contest, which, significantly, was won in 2014 by Austrian cross-dresser Conchita Wurst.
The city plans to monitor reaction to the new lights – which will remain in place through June – to see if they enhance pedestrian safety and cut back on the number of jaywalkers.
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The city spent about 63,000 Euros, or $70,000 on the project, which isn’t going down well with all of its citizens, notably including the far-right Freedom Party, which calls it a violation of law and a waste of money. The group has filed a criminal complaint against the Vienna councilwoman overseeing traffic matters.
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But others have been impressed with the move. “I think this is a great idea,” resident Clemens Bendtner told the Associated Press, adding that equality is “a very important issue … getting some attention through the campaign.”
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The one-time capital of the Austro-Hungarian empire has traditionally had a strong love of music and the arts and has become something of a gay mecca in Europe. It is expected to draw a large crowd for the Eurovision Song Contest, which has become one of the Continent’s most popular kitsch events.
This will obviously offend many who’s religious beliefs do not recognize gay couples. One could legitimately argue about the cost to promote a gay lifestyle regardless. It is a rather strange promotion for local government.
I wonder how many of these “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” signs will be broken, shattered or otherwise vandalized before the end of their test. I’ll bet they wouldn’t last a week in some American locales.
Not to worry, tax payers will pay for the damage…
Obviously Europe os full of subversives and no one there realizes the extent of their activities but in America we have the book NONE Dare Call it Treason 25 Years Later by John Stormer which shows the source of this promotion of indecency to be the USSR.
How sad for Europe to be so far down the rabbit hole and to still be seeking the bottom or morality as though it was the light and not darkness at the end of the tunnel.