LGBT “Pride” banners are back on Westheimer Road in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, nearly a year after the city removed the area’s rainbow crosswalk to comply with a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott.
Pride Houston 365, Mayor John Whitmire, and Houston City Councilmember Joe Panzarella announced Tuesday that banners would be installed on 10 CenterPoint light poles along Westheimer, from just east of Taft Street to Montrose Boulevard. The banners feature the “Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag.”
The effort was spearheaded by Pride Houston 365 President Kerry-Ann Morrison, organizer Jack Valinski, and Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin, who previously served on city council, with support from Panzarella. Councilmembers Mario Castillo and Alejandra Salinas were also recognized.
Whitmire privately funded the installation, which cost roughly $10,000. The money was originally set aside from the council offices of Kamin and Panzarella, but Whitmire confirmed last week that he wrote a check to replace it. He said the goal was to “safeguard the banners from any political intervention from any level.” By July, Whitmire had told Valinski he preferred private donations to city money. In October, he told council members that future LGBT displays might need to go on private property to avoid risking city funds.
The installation also required a city council vote to revive the Lower Westheimer Banner District, which allows banners on utility poles in the area. Valinski has said the district was used for LGBT banners for many years before it fell out of use once the parade moved downtown. As of July, CenterPoint still needed to give final approval.
Abbott directed the Texas Department of Transportation last October to ensure cities and counties comply with federal and state roadway guidelines, a move aimed at street markings like the rainbow crosswalks in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston. Cities that refused could lose state and federal road funding or see their TxDOT agreements suspended. The directive followed a July federal “SAFE ROADS” initiative from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The Montrose crosswalk at Westheimer and Taft was first painted in 2017 in memory of Alex Hill, who was killed in a hit-and-run at the intersection in 2016. Pride Houston 365 funded the $15,000 project. Metro painted over the crosswalk in September, the city repainted it, and it was paved over the following month after a standoff between protesters and police.
At Tuesday’s announcement, Panzarella said, “When the Pride crosswalks were removed, our community felt that loss.” Morrison said she hopes people who see the banners feel there is a place for them in Houston. Whitmire said his support for the LGBT community goes back decades and noted he received the Harvey Milk Award in 1993. State Rep. Ann Johnson, a Democrat who represents Montrose, directed her remarks at Abbott and Republican lawmakers, saying the state cannot remove the community’s presence or history.
Other Texas cities have also kept similar symbols despite Abbott’s directive. Austin advocates installed a historical marker at the former crosswalk site, while Dallas and San Antonio painted rainbows on nearby sidewalks and steps. Galveston crews confirmed in October that they would remove two rainbow crosswalks.
