{"id":337340,"date":"2026-06-15T19:22:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/337340\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T19:22:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:22:18","slug":"texas-banned-rainbow-crosswalks-el-paso-transformed-its-street-lights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/337340\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas banned rainbow crosswalks. El Paso transformed its street lights"},"content":{"rendered":"

In August 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the removal <\/a>of roughly 400 \u201cnon-standard\u201d pieces of street art, the majority of which were rainbow-colored, Pride-themed, or generally associated with the LGBTQ+ community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes,\u201d DeSantis wrote on X<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In his order, DeSantis cited concerns over the road safety of pedestrians and drivers, despite evidence that brightly painted roadways actually reduce traffic accidents and increase pedestrian safety<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Overnight, rainbow-colored sidewalks, crosswalks, and murals were ripped up from streets across Florida \u2014 including the memorial for the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Two months later, in October 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott <\/a>echoed DeSantis\u2019 remarks when he ordered the removal of LGBTQ+ Pride crosswalks and other road markings that \u201cadvance political agendas\u201d and \u201cideologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the months since, people have found creative ways to circumvent the bans in Florida and Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Residents, business owners, and city officials have installed rainbow bike racks<\/a>, moved rainbow crosswalks to sidewalks<\/a>, painted fence posts<\/a>, revamped private parking lots<\/a> with LGBTQ+-friendly murals, and displayed rainbow laser beams<\/a> in the night sky.<\/p>\n

Most recently, El Paso responded to the ban by wrapping Pride-themed \u201ccylinders\u201d around city street lights in the heart of downtown.<\/p>\n

\u201cCelebrating Pride Month in El Paso!\u201d The City of El Paso\u2019s official Instagram account shared on June 3<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to announce the installation of colorful Pride-themed decorative cylinders on streetlights around Pride Square.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Image via the City of El Paso Instagram<\/p>\n

The cylinders bear the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag,<\/a> the most current and comprehensive version of the LGBTQIA+ pride flag, which was designed by Valentino Vecchietti in 2021.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese installations can be viewed downtown on Stanton Street, between Franklin and Missouri avenues,\u201d the post continued. \u201cJoin us in creating a welcoming atmosphere for all residents and visitors during this vibrant month of activities and events!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Amber Perez, the executive director of the Borderland Rainbow Center, told KTSM<\/a> it was a chance for city officials to show support for El Paso\u2019s LGBTQ+ community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things that has been the most amazing about all of this work is the collaboration between the City, local queer organizations, and activists,\u201d Perez said. \u201cThat\u2019s how all of this has kind of come to fruition, trying to figure out other ways to continue to uplift the community while still staying legal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perez said it\u2019s not the first time that community activists have had to stand up and say, \u201cHey, we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n

And it won\u2019t be the last.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think last year\u2019s Pride across the nation was a little bit more subdued. There was a lot of fear within the community,\u201d Perez admitted. \u201cThere was just this feeling of like, nobody knows what\u2019s really going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I think this year we\u2019re seeing a bounce back from that \u2014 saying, \u2018You know what? Whatever happens, it doesn\u2019t matter. We are here, we are queer, and we exist.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u200d<\/p>\n

You may also like: To end LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, Wisconsin is planting flowers in sidewalk cracks<\/a><\/p>\n

\u200d<\/p>\n

Header images via the City of El Paso Instagram<\/p>\n