In Support of LGBTQ Texans, the Texas Office of Public Citizen Directs a Colorful Message at Gov. Abbott
AUSTIN, Texas — In response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s demand that cities remove rainbow crosswalks or face road funding cuts, the Texas office of Public Citizen, located a few blocks from the governor’s mansion, is supporting LGBTQ Texans and sending a message to the governor.
The windows of Public Citizen’s offices in downtown Austin have been painted with the rainbow colors of the LGBTQ pride flag, along with a sign carrying the following message:
Dear Gov. Abbott: Equality, dignity and visibility are fundamental to democracy. Regards, your neighbors at Public Citizen.
“The Public Citizen offices in Austin are a short distance from the governor’s mansion, and an even shorter distance from where the governor’s office staff works,” said DeeDee Belmares, a clean energy advocate at Public Citizen. “The governor likely travels these streets frequently. The office’s painted windows won’t hurt him or anyone else. The rainbow crosswalks he ordered removed were used by thousands of people every day, causing no harm. It’s essential that the governor and all others who happen to pass by the offices know that inclusivity is a Texas value. The painted windows are a message to the LGBTQ community that Public Citizen will stand with you as you fight for the right to exist and be yourselves.”
The governor’s directive mirrors similar orders from the federal government under the second Trump Administration. In Texas, some cities have made the difficult decision to remove crosswalks and preserve critical funding, while others are considering their legal options.
Additional images of the Public Citizen Austin offices and the painted windows are available here.