San Antonio Paints Rainbow Sidewalks After State Ban

When Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered San Antonio to remove its rainbow Pride crosswalks in October 2025, city officials didn't give up. They just got creative.

The original crosswalks at North Main Avenue and Evergreen Street had welcomed residents and visitors since 2017. But under pressure from federal transportation officials, Abbott gave Texas cities 30 days to remove LGBTQ+ Pride road markings or lose state transportation funding.

San Antonio tried to get an exemption. When that failed, road crews removed the crosswalks in January.

But just days later, rainbow stripes appeared on the sidewalks at the same intersection. District 1 City Council member Sukh Kaur worked with the city's LGBTQ+ Advisory Board to design the new display.

The sidewalk painting didn't require a City Council vote because the area holds a cultural heritage district designation. That meant the city could move quickly without bureaucratic delays.

"While our asphalt may be regulated by the state, our sidewalks are not," Kaur told the Texas Tribune. "The sidewalks are under city purview, and we want them to represent our city's values."

Not everyone on the City Council supported the project. Two council members claimed it would cost $170,000 in taxpayer funds that should go toward other infrastructure needs.

District 2 Council member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez pushed back on that criticism. He pointed out that the original crosswalks were maintained by volunteers and local businesses at no cost to taxpayers until the state forced their removal.

"Taxpayers wouldn't be paying anything if Greg Abbott didn't force us to rip up and replace a perfectly good intersection," McKee-Rodriguez said.

The Ripple Effect

San Antonio's quick thinking inspired similar responses across the country. When Florida banned Pride crosswalks, St. Petersburg responded by lighting up the sky with rainbow lasers.

These creative solutions show how communities can support their LGBTQ+ residents even when faced with restrictive policies. The sidewalk display occupies the same neighborhood as the original crosswalks, keeping the Pride Cultural Heritage District visibly welcoming.

James Poindexter, secretary and parade director for Pride San Antonio, called the sidewalk alternative "great" and said it supports the neighborhood's vision. McKee-Rodriguez noted that data showed the intersection was actually safer after the original crosswalks were installed, proving this was never really about traffic concerns.

The new rainbow sidewalks send a clear message: when one door closes, communities committed to inclusion will find another way through.