SAN ANTONIO (LifeSiteNews) — The City of San Antonio, Texas, is planning to spend $170,000 of its public works budget to scrub rainbow paint from crosswalks and then paint LGBT-themed rainbow sidewalks, prompting backlash from conservatives, including councilmembers.
Local judge Christine Hortick has allowed the hefty funding of the pro-homosexual imagery to move forward after the Texas Conservative Liberty Forum filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s decision to fund the painting of rainbow sidewalks without holding a public meeting.
Michael Rendon, a member of San Antonio’s “LGBTQ advisory board,” recently told KSAT 12 News that the city will be painting “trans flags” on the sidewalks as well.
The rainbow sidewalks exploit a loophole in Governor Greg Abbott’s October order that the Texas Department of Transportation ensure cities and counties removed roadway art displays that “advance political agendas” and “ideologies.”
After the Texas DOT denied San Antonio’s exemption request for its own planned rainbow-painted crosswalks, the city decided to paint the sidewalks in rainbow colors instead, in honor of LGBT “pride,” since the sidewalks don’t fall under the purview of Texas DOT.
Councilmembers Marc Whyte and Misty Spears have decried as inappropriate the use of taxpayer funds to decorate sidewalks to promote an activist agenda instead of addressing infrastructure issues.
“San Antonio continues to face significant challenges related to drainage, street conditions, and sidewalk repairs,” Whyte said. “When taxpayer dollars are involved, our focus should be on addressing these essential infrastructure needs that directly impact public safety and our residents’ day-to-day quality of life.”
Councilmember Spears supported Governor Abbott’s instruction that municipalities remove political and ideological displays.
“I believe the elimination of the rainbow crosswalks was an important roadway safety decision made by the state of Texas and not intended to target San Antonio or the [so-called] LGBTQ community,” said Spears. “Protected free speech is what makes America the best country in the world. However, tax dollars should not fund individual viewpoints.”
The mayor of San Antonio, Gina Ortiz Jones, who was former President Biden’s Under Secretary of the Air Force, is openly lesbian.
Contact info for the San Antonio Mayor’s office and City Council office is found here.