San Antonio unveils amazing rainbow crosswalks in its Pride heritage district
San Antonio has a striking response to Texas's recent ban on rainbow crosswalks.
Mark
Several states across the US have acted to remove rainbow crosswalks in recent months. However, some cities are fighting back and making sure rainbows remain visible.
For example, St Petersburg in Florida installed rainbow bike racks late last year following the removal of a Pride crosswalk.
Texas
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott ordered his state to also remove its “non-standard” road crossings last October. In response, the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas painted its steps in rainbow colors after the removal of a local rainbow crossing in the city.
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Then there’s San Antonio. The Texas city asked state officials for an exemption for its rainbow crosswalk at North Main Avenue and Evergreen Street. However, this was denied, and city officials removed it in mid-January. They feared losing state funding if they did not comply.
The crosswalk lay at the heart of what’s become known as San Antonio’s newly anointed Pride Cultural Heritage District.
Local activists unsuccessfully launched legal action to try to save the crosswalk, but a judge rejected this.
However, as the battle to try to save the crosswalk waged, a plan for a new rainbow celebration was hatched.
The idea to replace the crosswalk with a rainbow sidewalk came from San Antonio District 1 City Council member Sukh Kaur and the city’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. They say that because of the area’s cultural heritage district designation, they could proceed with the plan without requiring a council vote.
Although many remain upset about the removal of the crosswalk, the new rainbow sidewalk does not threaten state funding.
“We want to make sure that our community knows while our asphalt may be regulated by the state, our sidewalks are not, and so the sidewalks are under city purview, and we want them to represent our city’s values,” Kaur told the Texas Tribune.
The sidewalks have now been completed. Kaur says she understands why some people are unhappy with the compromise, but says the city may take further action to assure its LGBTQ+ community that it stands behind them.
“I completely understand those folks that really wanted us to do more, and I respect that,” Kaur said. “I hope that they’ll see that us taking ownership of the land, an area that we do control like the sidewalks, demonstrates that we aren’t going silently.”
The queer appeal of San Antonio
After Houston, San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas and the seventh biggest in the US. The city blends rich history with modern attractions, anchored by the iconic Alamo and the enchanting River Walk—a network of walkways along the San Antonio River lined with restaurants, shops, and bars.
The Spanish colonial missions, including Mission San José, have UNESCO World Heritage status. The vibrant arts scene thrives in the Pearl District and Southtown neighborhoods.
For LGBTQ+ visitors, San Antonio offers a welcoming atmosphere with gay bars concentrated along the Main Avenue Strip, near the new rainbow sidewalks. There’s also the annual Pride Bigger Than Texas festival each June, with this year’s official Pride Parade scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026. It’s the biggest nighttime parade in the US.
It’s preceded by the 4th annual Pride River Parades & Celebration, produced by Visit San Antonio, on Saturday, May 30, 2026. This features a rainbow-festooned parade of boats along with the city’s famous River Walk.
Related
Wisconsin unveils a beautiful set of rainbow crosswalks as other states backtrack
“To anyone who sees these rainbows as a ‘divisive’ or ‘political’ symbol, we ask ‘who made them political — and WHY?’”
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