Community Leaders Seek Lower Westheimer Banner Revival
Proposal follows removal of Houston’s rainbow crosswalk.
In a recorded video message released May 20, 2026, retiring Houston City Councilmember Abbie Kamin, standing with community leaders Jack Valinski and Kerry-Ann Morrison, announced an effort to revive the Lower Westheimer Banner District, as a response to last year’s forced removal of an iconic rainbow crosswalk at Taft and Westheimer.
“As many of you may remember,” says Kamin, “several months ago, Governor Abbott came for our crosswalk, which not only was an absurd attack on local control, it was intended to, in a bigoted way, target our diverse communities that make Houston, and quite frankly, all of Texas, what it is.”
Houston’s banner districts are specific corridors officially approved by City Council to display promotional and decorative street banners on metal utility poles. Examples include the Houston Design District in west Houston, the Houston Southeast Cultural Arts & Entertainment District, and the Downtown Houston District. The proposed new banners for the Lower Westheimer district would hang along a route from Taft to Montrose.
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Source : https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2026/05/lower-westheimer-banner-district/