--- description: The signals were adopted in Linz and other cities to promote gay tolerance title: Austrian City Backs Away from Gay Crossing Lights image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2d592025b7cd81e3/698874062dce0163e29e6ce5/gay-themed-pedestrian-crossing.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Austrian City Removes Gay Crossing Lights by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 7, 2015 4:14 PM CUT  A pedestrian crossing signal showing a female homosexual couple at a junction on July 14, 2015 in Munich. A pedestrian crossing signal showing a female homosexual couple at a junction on July 14, 2015 in Munich.Joerg Koch—Getty Images by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 7, 2015 4:14 PM CUT An Austrian city has removed crossing lights that depict same-sex icons holding hands, intended to promote tolerance in the city. The [_BBC_ ](http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-35028590 "undefined")reports the signals were first introduced in Vienna last May, but after gaining popularity several other cities introduced them. In the city of Linz, however, a right-wing leader who opposed the signals from the start said the signals were “unnecessary.” “Traffic lights are for traffic and should not be misused to impart advice on how to live your life,” said local official Markus Hein, according to the _BBC._ Hein argues that because gay rights are already advanced in the country, there is no need for the signals. Officials and advocates who supported the signals, which were funded by private donations, say their removal marks a step backwards for gay rights and tolerance. \[[BBC](http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-35028590 "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4138446/austrian-city-gay-crossing-lights/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4138446/austrian-city-gay-crossing-lights/"},"headline":"Austrian City Removes Gay Crossing Lights","datePublished":"2015-12-07T16:14:58.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T13:09:30.520Z","description":"The signals were adopted to promote gay tolerance","url":"https://time.com/4138446/austrian-city-gay-crossing-lights/","keywords":["Gay Rights","LGBT","Austria"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2d592025b7cd81e3/698874062dce0163e29e6ce5/gay-themed-pedestrian-crossing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Maya Rhodan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2d592025b7cd81e3/698874062dce0163e29e6ce5/gay-themed-pedestrian-crossing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Munich Introduces Homosexual Pedestrian Light Figures","caption":"Munich Introduces Homosexual Pedestrian Light Figures","creditText":"Joerg Koch—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4138446/austrian-city-gay-crossing-lights/","name":"Austrian City Removes Gay Crossing Lights"}}]}] ```