Dallas Voice received this message from Oak Lawn United Methodist Church on New Year’s Eve. The church’s leadership and congregation are asking the community to attend a Monday, Jan. 5, meeting of the City of Dallas Historic Preservation/Landmark Commission hearting regarding the church’s rainbow steps. The steps, painted in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s homophobic order for Texas cities to remove all rainbow crosswalks or lose federal dollars, have made headlines around the world.\
Here is the message from the church:
“Oak Lawn United Methodist Church is inviting neighbors, community members, and allies to show up in support of its front steps — now painted in rainbow colors — as a visible sign of unity, safety, and belonging in the Oak Lawn neighborhood.
The City of Dallas Historic Preservation / Landmark Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m., where the future of the church’s front steps will be discussed. Members of the public are invited to appear in person to show their support. The commission will convene from City Council Chambers, 6th Floor at Dallas City Hall (Room 6ES).
The rainbow steps at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church were painted in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s directive to remove rainbow crosswalks. The decision was not an act of defiance, but an expression of faith and solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
“Silence is not neutral,” said Senior Pastor Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison. “Painting our steps in the colors of the rainbow is a visible witness to the gospel we preach — that every person is created in the image of God and worthy of safety, dignity, and belonging.”
Located at the heart of Oak Lawn, the steps have become more than an entrance to a church. They have emerged as a gathering point, a landmark of welcome, and a reminder that this neighborhood values diversity, care for one another, and shared public life — especially in moments when those values feel under threat.
Church leadership hopes the steps will continue to serve as a uniting symbol for neighbors across Oak Lawn, offering reassurance to LGBTQ+ residents, families, and allies that they are seen, supported, and loved. Community voices matter deeply in this process. Neighbors are encouraged to attend the hearing and speak about what the rainbow steps represent—not just to a church, but to the wider Oak Lawn community.
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church remains committed to being a place where faith is lived out through love, visibility, and care for neighbors—especially when it matters most. For more information, visit www.olumc.org.”
— Tammye Nash