Hours after Houston removed Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks, residents repainted the colors in protest of a state directive that sparked outrage.
HOUSTON — Less than a day after Houston city crews removed Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks, protesters brought the colors back — and the debate over the symbol’s meaning is only growing louder.
Overnight and into early Tuesday morning, residents returned to the intersection of Westheimer and Taft, repainting sections of the area in rainbow hues and spray-painting messages. They say they’re not ready to let the symbol go.
“Everyone’s just really happy that someone’s doing something and there’s already chalk out here. I just wanted to do something to make it more permanent,” said Jai, one of the protesters.
How we got here
The removal began around 2:30 a.m. Monday, when crews arrived to scrape away the rainbow-painted crosswalks. By sunrise, the bright colors were gone — replaced with fresh asphalt. City officials said the move was required under a directive from Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation to comply with federal roadway standards and avoid losing funding.
The governor’s guidance called for the removal of what he described as “political ideologies” from public roadways, following a federal directive from the Trump administration earlier this year.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the city was told federal funding for key projects could be at risk if the crosswalks stayed.
“I as a mayor am not going to risk federal funding,” Whitmire said. “I’m talking about healthcare, transportation — METRO is scheduled to get over a million dollars in the next five years. I have a responsibility to the entire city.”
Tense overnight protests
As crews worked, dozens of protesters gathered near the intersection in the heart of Montrose. Four people were detained by police for blocking the roadway, though it’s unclear if they were charged or released.
Some residents said the crosswalks weren’t just about Pride — they were a memorial for a person killed in a hit-and-run at that same intersection years ago.
“This is a memorial for someone who was killed in a hit-and-run,” said protester Ethan Hale. “This is more than just the LGBT community.”
Others called the removal a political distraction.
“We know we have some of the worst air quality, we have people disappearing in the bayous, we have urgent matters that need to be attended to, and we are wasting time on a distraction and a vilification of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans people,” said Andy Escobar.
“We should be elevating our communities and amplifying the work that we’re doing here,” added Brenda Franco, another community advocate.
City, county, and state response
City officials confirmed that METRO provided the equipment used for the removal. As of Tuesday, both METRO and TxDOT have not yet responded to KHOU 11’s multiple requests for comment.
Harris County leaders expressed disappointment in the decision.
“I am deeply disappointed by the decision to remove Texas’ first Pride crosswalk, a symbol of safety, unity, equality, and respect in historic Montrose,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “Local communities, not state or federal pressure, should decide how we honor our values.”
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo also placed blame on METRO, questioning why the agency’s board of directors wasn’t involved.
“METRO could have requested an exemption from the state’s policy or taken legal action,” Hidalgo said. “The community deserves to know who made the final decision to remove the crosswalk, why the decision was not put up for a board vote, and what other options we could have pursued instead of instant removal.”
Councilmember Abbie Kamin, who represents the Montrose area, said she learned about the removal only after residents spotted heavy equipment on-site late Sunday night.
A symbol with history — and resilience
The rainbow crosswalks, first installed several years ago, were originally painted to honor a person killed at the intersection before becoming a lasting symbol of Pride and visibility. They were previously removed for road repairs and repainted soon after.
“Even losing the crosswalk doesn’t mean that the work we do ends,” said Kevin Strickland with Walk and Roll Houston. “It’s a beginning for us, not an end.”
Now, less than 24 hours after the latest removal, residents are once again filling the sidewalks and crosswalks with color — using spray paint, chalk, and their voices.
Community leaders say they’re already looking at ways to preserve visibility through new Pride art projects across the neighborhood.
“We’re going to try to coordinate with some of the businesses and residents to see if they’re interested in painting their driveways or parking lots,” said Jack Valinski, president of the Neartown/Montrose Super Neighborhood.
KHOU 11 has reached out to METRO and the Texas Department of Transportation for additional comment.
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