Rainbow crossings across Florida are under threat, despite widespread outrage following the recent erasure of the Orlando crossing dedicated to the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre.
The Pulse attack remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history and the deadliest terrorist attack in the country since 9/11.
Last week, the rainbow-painted crosswalk outside Pulse was removed overnight under orders from President Donald Trump’s administration. In defiance, Orlando locals returned the colours with chalk the following day.
Now, further rainbow crossings are set to be erased under a directive that cities must remove them by early September or risk losing federal transportation funding.
DeSantis defends directive
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed the state Department of Transportation had been ordered to comply, saying:
“We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has given governors 60 days to identify “safety improvements” and insisted:
“Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork.”
Cities push back
The Florida Department of Transportation argued it had a duty to ensure roadways were “not utilised for social, political or ideological interests.”
But city leaders across Florida are pushing back. St Petersburg requested an exemption for five Pride crosswalks, saying they fostered a sense of community. The request was denied.
Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava voiced her fury on X:
“I am outraged by the state of Florida’s decision to forcefully remove Pride crosswalks—symbols of love, support and unity in our communities. These vibrant installations are more than paint on pavement; they reflect the values we hold dear: respect, appreciation of neighbours and the fundamental right to live and love openly.”
Outrage and defiance
Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida’s first openly gay Latino state senator, condemned the removal of the Pulse memorial under the cover of darkness:
“They did this in the middle of the night because they were scared of the resistance, they know what they did was wrong. There will be a rainbow mural nearby that is even bigger, queerer and more colourful than they ever imagined.”
Despite mounting outrage, officials warn that unless the crosswalks are removed voluntarily, federal authorities may step in to erase them.
