1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to your recent order requiring Dallas and other Texas cities to remove rainbow crosswalks or risk losing funding. This decision is deeply disappointing, unnecessary, and infringes on the rights of Texans to free expression and local self-governance. Rainbow crosswalks are harmless symbols of inclusion and community pride. For many LGBTQ+ Texans, they represent safety, visibility, and belonging. Forcing cities to erase them sends a message that acceptance and individuality are not welcome in our state. Threatening to withhold funding to enforce this ban misuses state power and violates the First Amendment principles that our nation was built on. Texans have the right to express their values publicly, and local communities have the right to celebrate diversity in their own ways. I urge you to reconsider this decision and allow Texas cities to stand proudly for inclusion and freedom of expression. Our state should be known for protecting rights, not restricting them.