Andy Cohen Praises a Dallas Church for its Reponse to Gov. Abbott’s War on Crosswalks

On Monday night, Bravo’s Andy Cohen, on his late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live, gave a shout-out to Oak Lawn United Methodist Church (OLUMC).

Cohen, who is Jewish, ends his show with a “Mazel of the Day” segment, where he praises everyone from the outrageous and omnipresent Real Housewives on the network to good Samaritans who make the news for heart-warming reasons. OLUMC, of course, fell into the latter category when it announced last week that it would paint its front steps with LGBTQ pride stripes in response to Greg Abbott’s order to remove rainbow crosswalks from the neighborhood.

Cohen called Abbott’s order “stupid” (ICYMI: we and our readers agree) before citing the church’s statement on the matter, which in part reads, “Our steps are a declaration in paint: every LGBTQ+ child of God deserves safety, dignity, and joy — without apology.”

Cohen continued, “At a time when so many are weaponizing religion to promote hate and divide our country, this mural is a beautiful symbol that all are welcome, because accepting others, even people who are different from you, is truly the Christian thing to do.” Watch below.

The governor announced earlier this month that he was directing the state’s Department of Transportation to enforce “roadway safety measures” to remove displays of “political ideologies.” Abbott also said, “Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be used wisely, not advance political agendas on Texas roadways.” However, LGBTQ existence is not inherently political, nor are the crosswalks in the city’s historic Gayborhood funded by the state of Texas. Representatives from the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce have made clear that the crosswalks are funded privately.

OLUMC senior pastor the Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison responded swiftly, telling the Dallas Voice that she proposed painting the steps to the church’s board on a Monday evening and that a team was painting them by the next morning.

“This is not a political act,” Griffin-Allison told the Voice. “It’s a pastoral one. It’s an expression of our faith in a God whose covenant love is wider than fear and whose grace refuses to be painted over.”

Amen to that.