Church Paints Rainbow Steps In Protest of Pride Crosswalk Removal

A Methodist church in Texas is making a bold statement on faith and inclusion, painting their front steps in the colors of the LGBTQ+ flag in defiance of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s recent calls to scrub rainbow crosswalks statewide.

Pastoral leadership at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas say that painting their steps in the colors of the rainbow is not only their way of showing solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, but a vivid act of Christian witness, an embodiment of the biblical values of kindness, hospitality, and acceptance they hold sacred.

Rainbow Crosswalk Removal

Earlier this year, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asked the nation’s governors to remove rainbow crosswalks in their states. Rainbow crosswalks are a common sight in cities across the country, particularly in traditionally gay neighborhoods.

Citing the nearly 40,000 traffic fatalities in 2024, Duffy framed the move as one of safety, not symbolism. He stressed the Trump Administration’s desire to make “crosswalk and intersection markings… free from distractions.” It’s unclear how many – if any – traffic fatalities have actually been caused by rainbow paint.

In a later interview, however, Duffy signaled that the initiative had motivations beyond traffic safety. “Roads are for safety,” he stated, “not political messages or artwork.” 

That’s a sentiment echoed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who in October directed the Texas Department of Transportation to remove “political ideologies” from crosswalks, threatening he’d withhold state and federal funds from any cities which refused to comply.

Some crosswalks have already been removed. 

"Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be used wisely,” Abbott wrote, “not advance political agendas on Texas roadways.”

Taking a Colorful Stand

Abbott’s announcement sparked outrage and galvanized resistance, leading to protests in cities across the state.

Some 150 demonstrators showed up to protest the removal of the privately funded rainbow crosswalk just outside the front steps of the LGBTQ+-friendly Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas. 

And after seeing their community display scores of rainbows on private property as a form of peaceful protest, pastoral leadership came up with the idea to paint their steps in the colors of the rainbow – not in defiance, but in solidarity.

As Senior Pastor Rachel Griffin-Allison put it, “painting our steps in the colors of the rainbow is a visible witness to the gospel we preach: that every person is created in the image of God and worthy of safety, dignity, and belonging."

"They're not just paint on steps, but a way to say that God's love will not be silenced."

Church leadership felt it important to signal that Oak Lawn is a safe harbor for those who may feel unwelcome elsewhere.

“The rainbow is a reminder for those that come in our doors or just drive through our neighborhood that there's a place for them of safety and community,” stated Rev. Ryan Wager. 

Should Rainbows Be in the Road?

Supporters of public rainbow displays say the Pride flag is not an inherently "political message," but instead a symbol of visibility and inclusion for a community long pushed into the margins.

And when it comes to rainbow crosswalks in particular, they argue that "safety" is a convenient guise under which to remove a display that means a lot to the communities that choose to paint them. Protesters say that LGBTQ+ visibility – not traffic deaths – is the real enemy being targeted here. 

But so far, that hasn't stopped the campaign to remove them from the public eye in places like Texas. 

What do you think? Should rainbow crosswalks get the green light, or are states justified in paving them over?