Utrecht gets ‘gay’ traffic lights to show support for diversity

DutchNews, March 9, 2016

Photo: Bas de Meijer / Hollandse Hoogte

Utrecht city council has installed two special sets of traffic lights for pedestrians featuring gay couples. 

The traffic lights show two women and two men holding hands and were put up to show the city’s acceptance of different forms of sexuality. A third set of traffic lights shows a man and a woman crossing the road. 

Council alderman Kees Geldorf told broadcaster Nos he did not expect the traffic lights to change people’s image of people who are gay, bisexual or transgender.

‘They show Utrecht is a many-sided city,’ he said. ‘ And they do give cause for reflection while you are waiting for the lights to change.’ 

According to Metro, the traffic lights cost €1,200 each. Utrecht was also the first city in the Netherlands to have a rainbow zebra crossing.