Where Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks once stood, new rainbow banners will serve as indicators of LGBTQ+ pride: The city will install a series of banners reinstating the Montrose Pride Banner District, first approved in 1999.
The banners will likely be installed by Aug. 15, before the city’s rescheduled Pride Parade, Pride Houston 365 announced in a Thursday news release. The project is made possible through a special designation from the city that allows the rainbow banners to be hung along Westheimer Road through Montrose.
The project was a joint effort between Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin’s office, Neartown Montrose Super Neighborhood leadership including Pride Houston 365 — the original sponsor of the banner district — and the city. Kamin said her office allocated $10,000 to install the banners.
“At a time where so many communities are being targeted by (President Donald) Trump and our state, it’s important to, not just in words, but in our actions, stand up for the people we represent,” Kamin said.
Kamin said much of the work happened behind the scenes, and thanked residents and community organizations such as Pride Houston 365, Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the Montrose Center and Jack Valinsky the president of the Super Neighborhood and a driving force behind the project. She said Panzarella also carried the torch.
“The residents, Houstonians, really deserve the credit,” Kamin said. “We asked how they would like to move forward and this is one of the suggestions that was brought to us. It really was a collaboration and partnership that reflects the best of what Houston is.”
Council member Joe Panzarella said he wanted to “give a voice and provide a space” for those who were frustrated with the removal of the Pride crosswalk. He said it’s a “full circle moment” — because the city found another way to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride after it was forced to remove the crosswalks under the state directive.
“This is important to be able to show pride and show the joy in the LGBTQ+ community that has always been within Montrose,” Panzarella said. “While the state government may be prohibiting visual, colorful crosswalks, this is an opportunity for the city and for Montrose and the LGBTQ+ community to be able to be loud and proud.”
Panzarella credits Kamin’s office and Valinsky for getting the application to the mayor’s desk and helping bring the project to fruition.
Panzarella said reviving the banner district — which had been dormant for years — also emphasizes the community and the historical legacy of Montrose, the “strongest LGBTQ+ community in Houston.” He said the goal is to expand the banner district beyond the current blocks.