|
Dozens of traffic lights in central Vienna have been
programmed to show male or female gay couples with hearts -- in
red for stop and green for go -- replacing the usual single,
gender-neutral figure.
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, a spokeswoman
for Vienna's city lighting department said.
The city of Vienna will then collate data to see whether the
campaign has indeed helped traffic safety, she added.
The Eurovision Song Contest, now in its 60th year, has long been
a fixture on the international gay calendar.
Last year, bearded transvestite Conchita Wurst won the contest
for Austria with the song "Rise like a Phoenix" and immediately
became a global gay icon.
About 40 countries are taking part in the 2015 Eurovision
contest and the final will be held on May 23.
Vienna will also host a "Life Ball" charity event on May 16 to
raise money for the fight against HIV and AIDS. Hollywood
actress Charlize Theron and French fashion designer Jean Paul
Gaultier will be among the guests, along with Conchita.
(Reporting By Shadia Nasralla; Editing by Gareth Jones)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
