{"id":291283,"date":"2025-10-10T06:44:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/291283\/"},"modified":"2025-10-10T06:44:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:44:10","slug":"san-antonios-pride-district-defends-rainbow-crosswalks-amid-state-directive-to-remove-political-symbols","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/291283\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio\u2019s Pride district defends rainbow crosswalks amid state directive to remove political symbols"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 The City of San Antonio said it has no current plans to remove the rainbow crosswalks in the Pride Cultural Heritage District<\/a>. <\/p>\n

This comes a day after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to enforce the removal<\/a> of \u201call political ideologies\u201d from Texas streets, citing concerns of distractions for drivers. <\/p>\n

A community meeting was held Thursday night in San Antonio\u2019s Pride district, where residents discussed the topic.<\/p>\n

Lyn-Z Andrews, the forum\u2019s host, said the crosswalks are \u201ca symbol of being who we are.\u201d <\/p>\n

On July 1, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean. P. Duffy sent a letter<\/a> to every governor about the SAFE ROADS initiative. The letter stated all \u201cintersections and crosswalks need to be kept free from distractions,\u201d including \u201cpolitical messages of any nature, artwork or anything else that detracts from the core mission of driver and pedestrian safety.\u201d <\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Gov. Abbott told TxDOT<\/a> to ensure all Texas counties and cities complied with these roadway safety guidelines. He warned about the dangers of roads that are distracting and threatened consequences, like withholding certain funding for cities that refuse to comply. <\/p>\n

TxDOT then sent a letter<\/a> to local jurisdictions, warning of a 30-day timeline to ensure compliance. <\/p>\n

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) will re-stripe the pavement<\/a> of one Houston intersection to comply with Abbott\u2019s directive.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, City of San Antonio officials said<\/a> there are \u201cno immediate plans to make changes to any roadways.\u201d <\/p>\n

In a statement sent to KSAT, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said the city attorney and city manager are waiting for more information from TxDOT to understand \u201cthe full scope of what may be impacted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Mayor, I remain committed to balancing our community\u2019s transportation needs with ensuring everyone in our community feels safe, welcomed and supported,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Organizers at Thursday\u2019s community forum focused most of the discussion on an ordinance still in the early stages. They said this ordinance would increase protections for people who are transgender, nonbinary or intersex.<\/p>\n

KSAT was told the ordinance does not have a timeline and will likely be brought to city council as a council consideration request through District 2. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter what, they cannot take away our pride,\u201d Andrews said. <\/p>\n

Read also:<\/b><\/p>\n