"Misogynistic" Urinals To Be Removed From Public Restroom

Oct. 20, 2006 — -- A businessman has agreed to remove the "misogynistic" urinals from a public restroom near Vienna's opera house.

The urinals, which are located in the "Opera Toilet," alavishly decorated public restroom, feature thick, lipsticked lips,a set of teeth and a bright red tongue.

"We think that it's tasteless, misogynistic and offensive,"Marianne Lackner, media spokeswoman for the Vienna Department ofWomen's Affairs, told The Associated Press.

The department said it was appealing to the owner's good will,but was also exploring the possibility of legal action.

Neuhold Gerhard, owner of the toilet's operator Neuhold GerhardLimited, said in an interview Thursday with Austrian public radiothat he would remove the urinals.

"If there is such outrage in Austria then it's not a problem,"he said. "We will remove them in the next 14 days."

Gerhard added that he thought it odd that public interest hasonly now been focused on the urinals, which have been around forthree years.

"The thing that surprises us the most," Lackner said, "isthat no man has ever said anything about this."