About 120 of Vienna's pedestrian crossings have been replaced with new traffic lights this week, ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest. The newly-installed fixtures are replacements for the regular red and green lights. They show a symbol of couples holding hands with a heart lighting up between them. The couples include heterosexual pairs as well as same-sex pairs, according to CNN.
Officials in Vienna said that the unusual traffic lights are aimed at improving safety on the road, particularly with many visitors and media participants arriving for the yearly event. But more than that, the move is to show that the city is accepting, tolerant and open-minded about same-sex relationships.
Vienna is spending €63,000 (US$70,779) for this "progressive" improvement, which had some locals outraged. Some say that the money should not have been spent for "senseless things."
"That's our tax money - not your private play money! Couldn't a better use for it have been found?" a resident asked in the report from The Local, an Austrian news outlet.
Sonya Vicht from the 33rd municipal department said that the local government conducted a study before changing the light signals, according to the Telegraph. The city will also hold a Life Ball this weekend to raise funds for HIV awareness.
Eurovision will take place from May 18 to 23 this year, with 40 countries set to compete against each other. The singing contest was launched in 1965 and has emerged as the biggest talent contest in the world, as per CNN.
