Members of the city’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board say they expected the outcome but remain undeterred.
SAN ANTONIO — TxDOT has rejected San Antonio’s appeal to keep a rainbow-painted crosswalk downtown, but city leaders and LGBTQ+ advocates say the dispute goes far beyond paint on the pavement.
Mayor Gina Ortiz-Jones said she was not surprised by the Texas Department of Transportation’s decision, arguing it reflects motivations beyond public safety.
“It’s not a surprise, right? I said very early on I was not optimistic about that just because I know the intent here is frankly something other than public safety,” Ortiz-Jones said. “We just got to deal with what we’re dealing with at this point.”
TxDOT’s rejection means the colorful crosswalk must eventually be removed, ending a visible symbol of inclusion in the city’s downtown core. City officials say no specific deadline has been issued, but San Antonio plans to move quickly to comply.
Members of the city’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board said they expected the outcome but remain undeterred.
“We very much anticipated that would be the response,” said Maria Salazar, the board’s chair. “But I think the city made some good arguments.”
Salazar said visibility and advocacy will continue, regardless of the decision.
“We will certainly continue to be visible and go forward,” she said. “With no shame.”
District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur said city leaders are already planning alternatives to ensure the message of inclusion remains clear.
“We are going to paint the sidewalks one block south and one block north of the crosswalks right now in our flag colors,” Kaur said. “We’re trying to find a date to do that before we have to paint over the crosswalk.”
Ortiz-Jones acknowledged the limits of the city’s authority over state-controlled roadways but emphasized that the broader values behind the crosswalk won’t disappear.
“We’ve got to pick our battles,” the mayor said. “We can show that we are a diverse and unified community in other ways.”
While the rainbow colors may soon fade from the street, city leaders say San Antonio’s stance on inclusion will remain firmly visible.