In a move that’s sparked outrage, confusion, and protests across Texas, Governor Greg Abbott’s directive to remove rainbow crosswalks and other street art deemed to "advance political agendas" has set off a flurry of responses from cities both large and small. The order, issued in early October 2025, has forced local governments to choose between compliance and resistance, all under the looming threat of losing critical state and federal transportation funding.
Houston was the first to announce it would remove its lone LGBTQ+ pride crosswalk at Westheimer and Taft in the Montrose neighborhood, a decision made mere hours after Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issued their warnings. According to Chron, Houston METRO, which had just repainted the crosswalk less than two weeks before, stated, “Given the recent directive, we will comply with the order to preserve support that is essential to our mission of providing safe, clean, reliable and accessible transit to all communities that depend on our services.”
But for many in Houston’s LGBTQ+ community, the removal felt like a slap in the face. The crosswalk, funded with private money from Pride Houston, was more than a colorful patch of pavement—it served as a memorial to 21-year-old Alex Hill, who was killed in a hit-and-run at the same intersection in 2016. On the Saturday following the announcement, a protest erupted in Montrose, with a coalition of 22 LGBTQ+ groups releasing a statement condemning the removal. Council Member Abbie Kamin, whose district includes the intersection, told OutSmart Magazine, “A private organization funded the painting to create not only a symbol for the neighborhood and the community, but a safety feature for the community to create a high-visibility crosswalk. The governor’s hiding behind this preposterous statement that this is for safety. No, the crosswalk was put there for safety.”
Similar scenes unfolded along the Gulf Coast. In Galveston, city crews removed two rainbow crosswalks last week, which had been painted in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. These crosswalks, also funded and maintained by private groups, were removed after the death of local activist Tom Schwenk in July 2025, according to the Galveston County Daily News. City Manager Brian Maxwell explained that, with TxDOT contributing to several joint projects, Galveston would ensure strict compliance with the new rules—leaving local activists and residents grappling with the erasure of what they considered vital symbols of inclusion and history.
In Austin, often hailed as Texas’ most queer-friendly city, the city council announced it would comply with Abbott’s order to remove the rainbow crosswalks at Fourth and Colorado streets, as well as the “Black Artists Matter” mural on Eleventh Street. The mural, painted in 2020 after the death of George Floyd, was a collaboration between the Austin Justice Coalition and Capitol View Arts. Local residents and activists voiced their frustration and heartbreak. “It feels like a slap in the face to the community,” said Micah Andress, President of Austin Pride, in an interview with FOX 7 Austin. “I don’t understand why this is political. It’s a rainbow crosswalk. It’s certainly not a safety hazard.” Andress emphasized that the crosswalks were a volunteer-driven project eight years in the making and called on the city to defend its values: “If we’re as progressive as we say we are, and we have all the protections that the city says we do, we should be protecting this. We shouldn’t be erasing it. We’re not going anywhere. We’ve always been here. We’ll always be here.”
Other Austinites echoed this sentiment. Resident Veronica Jones called the removal “an absolute breach on freedom of speech and a breach on our queer history,” while Chris Collier worried, “I would hate to see this block become any less colorful.” Brian Thomas, who frequently brings visitors to see the “Black Artists Matter” mural, lamented, “It’s become part of the community. When people visit here, I come by here and show them.” Chas Moore, founder of the Austin Justice Coalition, remained defiant: “Just because they want to erase something from the street, it doesn’t erase the sentiment, it doesn’t erase the message. The message remains the same, that Black lives matter, Black artists matter.”
City officials in Austin, while voicing their own reservations, acknowledged the risk of losing vital funding if they refused to comply. The threat isn’t idle—TxDOT has made clear that jurisdictions failing to remove such markings could lose both state and federal support. This pressure has forced even the most progressive municipalities to fall in line, at least for now.
Yet not every Texas city has rushed to comply. San Antonio and Dallas have taken more cautious or defiant stances. San Antonio, home to its own rainbow crosswalks at North Main Avenue and East Evergreen Street, announced it would not immediately remove them. Mayor Gina Ortiz, the city’s first openly gay mayor, told local media she was “awaiting additional information from TxDOT to ensure we understand the full scope of what may be impacted.” Council Member Sukh Kaur suggested the city might seek an exemption and, if forced to remove the crosswalks, would find “much bigger and broader ways” to honor San Antonio’s LGBTQ+ heritage.
Dallas, meanwhile, has openly challenged the governor’s directive. City Manager Kim Tolbert revealed that the city’s legal team is reviewing the new order, and Council Member Paul Ridley called the governor’s order “unsupported and highly questionable.” The rainbow crosswalks in Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood, also funded with private money, remain in place for now. Valerie Jackson of the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce told WFAA, “We’re increasing the vibrancy of the neighborhood and providing a safe space for a community that’s marginalized. The rainbow is for everyone.”
Governor Abbott’s order is not an isolated move. It follows similar federal actions under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s SAFE ROADS (Safe Arterials for Everyone through Reliable Operations and Distraction-Reducing Strategies) Initiative, which aims to keep roads free from distractions. Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a comparable directive, leading to the removal of rainbow crosswalks in that state as well. Despite claims that these measures are about safety, advocates and some city officials point to studies suggesting that high-visibility, colorful crosswalks may actually improve pedestrian safety by drawing more attention from drivers.
At the heart of the controversy lies a fundamental debate: Are these crosswalks and murals dangerous distractions, or are they vital symbols of community, remembrance, and inclusion? For now, Texas’ answer appears to be erasure, but the conversation—and the fight over who gets to define the look and feel of public spaces—is far from over.
