Mobile Scraps Banner Program After Anti-Gender Ideology Displays Spark Backlash

Eleven banners in downtown Mobile criticizing "gender ideology" have sparked backlash from LGBTQ advocates, and city officials announced Wednesday that privately funded banner displays will end, limiting future banners to official city programs. The banners, displayed for National Child Awareness Month and expected to remain through September, were likely paid for by Rev. Travis Johnson of Pathway Church, who said the display would end the program that allowed Pride Month banners. LGBTQ group Prism United said the message targets residents and harms youth mental health. The controversy follows a 2022 Pride-themed cannon painting that was vandalized, prompting the city to end that program. A 2025 Pew poll shows majority support for restrictions on gender-transition treatments for minors, while Republican congressional hopeful Jerry Carl backed the banners' message.