Houston Rainbow Crosswalks Removal Amidst Governor's Directive

Rainbow Crosswalks Removal

• 🏳️‍🌈 The city of Houston's rainbow crosswalks, a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community located at Westheimer Road and Taft in Montrose, are slated for removal.
• 📅 The removal is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning, with the exact time still unclear.
• 🏗️ Heavy machinery was unexpectedly placed at the site, surprising city council member Abby Hayman, who was not given prior notice.

Governor's Directive and Metro's Response

• 📜 The removal stems from a directive by Governor Greg Abbott instructing transportation officials to remove "political ideologies" from roadways.
• ⏳ Metro stated it would follow the governor's order, which outlines a 30-day timeline for removal, initially leading people to believe the deadline was in early November.
• 🤝 Council member Hayman confirmed with Metro that the crosswalks are being removed Monday morning, despite a planned Metro board meeting on Thursday to discuss potential opportunities.

Community Protest and Reaction

• ✊ Protesters gathered at the intersection to voice their opposition to the removal, only to find the equipment already present when they returned from lunch.
• 🎨 Some community members engaged in sidewalk art and placed flowers and pride flags on the machinery in protest.
• 💬 Advocates expressed that while disheartened, they do not plan to give up their fight, viewing the situation as a beginning for their movement rather than an end.
• 📢 Some advocates plan to be present during the crosswalk removal tomorrow morning.