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Gay pedestrian crossing lights introduced

The Austrian government hopes the signals, which show couples holding hands and with love hearts above them instead of a gender-neutral figure, will improve safety.

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Traffic lights bearing gay 'couples', rather than the traditional lone figure have been introduced in the Austrian city, Vienna.

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BBC reports that Vienna changed the signal images at 120 pedestrian crossings, which also shows heterosexual couples, in preparation for the Eurovision Song Contest which will see about 40 countries participate.

According to officials, the signals are a sign of Vienna's open-mindedness.

The move has however not gone well with politician, Toni Mahdalik of the Austrian right-wing Freedom Party who called the initiative gender politics "gone mad".

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He said the money would have been better spent on reducing poverty and improving unemployment figures.

The Austrian government hopes the signals, which show couples holding hands and with love hearts above them instead of a gender-neutral figure, will also improve safety, even as there are reports of the new signs attracting the attention of drivers and pedestrians.

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