Pride banners, pastor’s challenge push Mobile to assess its display policy

The City of Mobile is currently evaluating its banner program amid rising tensions and a public dispute concerning Pride Month displays and a challenge from a local pastor.

A Pattern of Controversy

City officials are considering the future of allowing privately funded banners on public property. This discussion follows a similar debate three years ago when the city halted permit issuance for private groups to decorate a historic midtown cannon—a decision also sparked by opposing reactions to Pride Month imagery.

The Pastor’s Challenge

The latest friction point was ignited by Rev. Travis Johnson of Pathway Church, who serves on the Visit Mobile board. During a sermon broadcast on social media this past Sunday, Johnson revealed he had applied to display a banner reading, “National Child Awareness Month – Protect Our Children from Gender Ideology.”

Johnson argued that his request should be treated with the same procedural parity as the Pride banners currently hanging along Water Street, which were financed by Mobile resident Bryan Fuenmayor. “There is no legal, procedural or policy basis to treat it differently,” Johnson stated.

City Response and Potential Policy Shifts

City spokesperson Dale Liesch confirmed the banner program is under internal review but emphasized that no final decisions have been reached. While the city maintains a formal process for organizations to display event-based flags, officials stated, “Once a public process like this is made available, the City must administer it consistently and fairly.”

The review does not impact official city-led displays, such as the upcoming banners honoring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, set to run from July 1 through Veterans Day. For more on the initial complaints surrounding the banner displays, read the report here.

Community Reactions

Bryan Fuenmayor, who financed the current Pride banners, expressed frustration over the potential elimination of the program. Recalling the 2022 incident where a rainbow-painted cannon was vandalized, Fuenmayor suggested that shuttering the program reflects a lack of leadership. “Instead of doing the right thing, they would rather just ruin it for everyone,” he said.

Johnson, who has gained national attention for his political activism and was profiled by The New York Times earlier this year, used his sermon to advocate for more conservative representation on city boards. He suggested that if the current banner policy ends because of his application, it would constitute a “victory for every family in this city.”

Governance and Representation

Visit Mobile spokesperson Ashley Rains noted that the board is composed of established leaders appointed by the City Council, the mayor, and the County Commission. “The board represents more than 23,000 dedicated hospitality professionals,” Rains said, noting that the agency remains committed to its mission of promoting Mobile as a welcoming destination. Fuenmayor, however, maintains that Johnson’s focus on these issues is politically driven, stating, “I don’t see him stopping at any time.”