San Antonio has found a creative workaround after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered cities to remove rainbow-painted crosswalks, which he deemed political statements. Instead of repainting the street, the city has painted sections of the sidewalk with Pride flag colours in the LGBTQ+ Heritage District.
The move follows an October directive from Abbott to remove 'any and all political ideologies' from roadways, backed by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's threat to revoke federal funding. Other Texas cities like Dallas, Austin, and Houston complied, removing their rainbow crosswalks.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, the first openly gay woman to hold the office, acknowledged the funding risk but stated her pride is 'not tied to this paint.' The city council's LGBTQ+ Advisory Board proposed the sidewalk alternative, inspired by Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez.
Michael Rendon, chair of the advisory board, told local outlet KENS5 that the sidewalk represents a welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community. The project cost $170,000 from Public Works funds, sparking a lawsuit from the Texas Conservative Liberty Forum, which objected to public spending on the rainbow design.
Pride San Antonio also sued to prevent removal of the original crosswalk, leading to merged lawsuits. A judge declined to issue an injunction, and the rainbow sidewalk was unveiled in late March.
