Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas received formal approval from the city’s Landmark Commission last week after officials, members, and volunteers painted the Late Gothic Revival building’s staircase the colors of the rainbow in October.

The building has local landmark status, and it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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The dramatic gesture reimagining the church steps was executed as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) carried out the Trump administration’s order to tear up rainbow crosswalks across the state, including one in front of the church’s historic building, home to a large and welcoming Methodist congregation.

The city of Arlington, Texas, is the latest victim of the rainbow purge.

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Church officials and members at Oak Lawn called painting the stairs an act of faith.

“Silence in the face of harm always sides with the oppressor,” Oak Lawn Senior Pastor Rachel Griffin-Allison said at the time. 

“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,” she said.

At a packed meeting last Monday, members of the Landmark Commission agreed, granting a three-year approval to the “temporary art installation.”

All of the speakers at the public forum spoke in favor of keeping the rainbow steps.

“This is religious expression,” said former Landmark Commissioner Cindy Steiner.

One speaker after another used the word “safe” to describe how the rainbow steps to the church made them feel, including at least one straight congregant, the Dallas Voice reports. They asked the commission to “respect the wishes of the congregation.”

A gay congregant from Denton, north of Dallas, said he was speaking because he was shunned at his former church after he came out. He knew he was welcome at Oak Lawn.

“Keeping the rainbow steps is Christlike,” he said.

The church’s petition originally requested a one-year approval for the rainbow-painted staircase. Asked by a commission member if the church would reapply again after the year was up, Senior Pastor Griffin-Allison replied yes, and the member asked for an amendment extending the certification to three years.

The approval was granted unanimously.

Following the meeting, Griffin-Allison said the turnout and the commission’s action “filled my heart.”

“And three years is great,” she added.

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