A church in Dallas has painted its front steps in rainbow colors after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered cities to remove rainbow crosswalks from public roads.

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church said the move was a statement of faith and solidarity, with church leaders declaring: “The governor may remove a rainbow from a roadway, but he cannot erase the image of God in God’s people.”

The staircase project began on October 21, 2025, after the state issued a directive giving local authorities 30 days to remove crosswalks or risk losing funding.

Abbott said Texans expected their “taxpayer dollars to be used wisely, not to advance political agendas on Texas roadways.”

The church’s senior pastor, Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison, told the Dallas Voice that Oak Lawn has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community, including offering funerals during the AIDS crisis when other congregations would not.

“Every person is created in the image of God, and every person is worthy of safety, dignity, and belonging,” she said. “Silence is not neutral—silence in the face of harm always sides with the oppressor.”

Founded in 1874, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church has described the rainbow staircase as a “visible witness to the gospel” and a sign of welcome to all.