In a representative democracy, constituents elect fellow citizens to advocate for them within the government. Politicians are usually voted in to address important issues like healthcare, safety, education or the economy — topics that affect their day-to-day life. Representing tens of millions, including queer individuals, those people are not given power to fight over something petty, like what color a crosswalk should be.
Despite having more important issues to address, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott took it upon himself to fight back against a scourge of pride-themed crosswalks. In October 2025, Abbott threatened to withhold funding from cities that did not remove “political messaging” from roadways.
That same month, a letter from the Texas Department of Transportation reiterated that the change was for safety and to limit distractions. However, the letter failed to list any incidents or trends in car accidents because of these crosswalks.
Abbott’s declaration joined countless other childish efforts to silence and push out the LGBTQ+ community. From burning out on a pride-themed road to shimmying up a handrail so as not to walk on rainbow stairs, it is embarrassing how far some will go to display disdain for a group that does not impact them at all.
Following the state’s order, San Antonio began removing pride-themed crosswalks throughout the city in January. Attempting to show some pushback, the San Antonio City Council opted to install rainbow-colored sidewalks in the Pride Cultural Heritage District.
It is hard to ignore the literal and metaphorical paving over of the LGBTQ+ community. Colorful crosswalks have never been a threat; they have never intimidated, threatened or killed. In contrast, hate crimes remain prevalent — even as overall crime rates fall — increasing 14% year-over-year, resulting in 10 deaths from May 2024 to May 2025. This includes a 57% increase in incidents targeting local and state elected officials.
These increases follow multiple executive orders from President Donald Trump’s administration and 575 bills targeting LGBTQ+ people.
To push back, Planned Parenthood South Texas gathered staff and volunteers to create their own rainbow crosswalk at two clinics in San Antonio on Jan. 15. The organization, which offers reproductive and sexual healthcare, indicated they will paint more. Hopefully, other organizations and businesses find inspiration to join in to show solidarity.
It is disheartening that this is even a debate or a priority. When any sign of oppression rears its head, resistance is always necessary, but elected officials were not put in place to legislate something so ridiculous. Even if Abbott is fervently anti-LGBTQ+, he has bigger issues to tackle. Texas is dead last in healthcare, 41st in education and 42nd in poverty — truly unacceptable figures for the second largest economy in the nation.
If Abbott really cared about safety, he would not legislate nonissues; if he really cared about reelection, he would build crosswalks between communities, not destroy them.
