In the early hours of September 2, 2025, the vibrant rainbow crosswalks that once adorned several Florida streets—symbols of inclusion, remembrance, and community pride—were erased by state order. The move, orchestrated by Governor Ron DeSantis and carried out by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) crews, has ignited passionate protests, legal threats, and a fierce debate about public art, safety, and the visibility of marginalized communities.
For years, the rainbow crosswalk near the Pulse nightclub in Orlando stood as a poignant memorial to the 49 people killed and 53 wounded in the 2016 mass shooting, one of the deadliest attacks on LGBTQ+ people in U.S. history. Painted in 2017, the crosswalk was more than just a splash of color—it was a promise that the victims would not be forgotten and that the city would stand in solidarity with its LGBTQ+ residents. According to The Advocate, the crosswalk was recently painted over in the middle of the night by order of Governor DeSantis, sparking outrage among community members and local officials alike.
Florida State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, the state’s first out Latine lawmaker, voiced his dismay to The Advocate, stating, “What I’m taken aback by is that of all the rainbow crosswalks in Florida, Gov. DeSantis decided the crosswalk attached to the Pulse nightclub memorial was the example he wanted to make.” The choice of location, for many, felt especially pointed and painful.
The removal of the Pulse crosswalk was not an isolated incident. That same week, FDOT crews worked through the night to erase the Progressive Pride intersection at Central Ave N and 25 St N in St. Petersburg. According to Axios, the operation began around 2:50 a.m. and concluded by 5 a.m., leaving behind a stark blacktop where a rainbow had once welcomed residents and visitors. The St. Petersburg mural was the last of five slated for removal under the governor’s directive to eliminate street art deemed “political.”
The state’s justification, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel and Axios, is that such artwork constitutes a safety hazard, distracting drivers and jeopardizing both pedestrian and vehicular safety. Yet, city traffic data tells a different story. The Orlando Sentinel found that decorative crosswalks—including the one near Pulse—actually reduced incidents where drivers slammed on the brakes, swerved, or crashed as pedestrians crossed. Over the past eight years, there were just four crashes at the Pulse crosswalk. Moreover, on Orange Avenue, where bright murals and decorative crosswalks were installed at four intersections, foot traffic nearly tripled while the rate of vehicle-pedestrian conflicts dropped by about 65%.
Despite these findings, the state’s crackdown has been uncompromising. Four individuals were arrested for coloring the Pulse crosswalk with sidewalk chalk as an act of protest, charged with “defacing a traffic device,” according to the Orlando Sentinel. As of September 2, up to six police squad cars were deployed to guard the site and prevent any restoration of rainbow colors. The symbolism was not lost on community members, who saw the heavy police presence as a stark contrast to the joyful intent of the crosswalks.
In St. Petersburg, the removal came just hours after several hundred people gathered at the intersection to protest by drawing rainbows and pro-LGBTQ+ messages with chalk. Rachel Covello, one of the organizers, shared her heartbreak on Facebook: “My heart hurts.” Eric Sumpter, a resident who watched the removal from his apartment, told Axios, “It was more intense than I expected. When you see them actively putting black on a rainbow, it’s like sabotage. ... Freedom of expression is a big deal around here.” Sumpter, who moved to the Grand Central District for its LGBTQ+-friendly reputation, lamented, “There’s a disregard for the fact that hateful people feel like this is a good thing. The covering up is a political statement.”
The sweep has not been limited to Pride-themed art. Other targeted murals included a “Black History Matters” piece outside the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, a pro-police mural near the Tampa Police Department, and even school crosswalks with no apparent messaging. Despite the broad net, the impact on LGBTQ+ visibility has been especially acute. As Sumpter put it, “A rainbow representing inclusion and the freedom to love who you want shouldn’t be a political statement.”
Not all Florida cities have complied without a fight. In Delray Beach, the LGBTQ rainbow crosswalk remains—at least for now. According to WLRN News, Delray Beach officials argue that the crosswalk honors the local LGBTQ community and poses no safety threat, having been installed with safety in mind. The city was given a deadline of September 2 to comply or face forced removal, fines, and the withholding of state funds. Instead, Delray Beach is weighing legal options to challenge the state’s anti-street art mandate, joining a handful of municipalities, such as Key West, that have refused to comply.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch explained his city’s reluctant compliance, telling Axios there was “no legal path” to resist the removal without risking millions in state funding. The tension between local autonomy and state authority has left many city leaders frustrated and searching for alternatives.
Governor DeSantis and state leaders have given varying reasons for the removal. Initial guidance from the state banned “social, political or ideological” pavement art that “does not serve the purpose of traffic control.” More recently, DeSantis has cited a new law passed by the Legislature, but lawmakers from both parties have refuted this, saying that covering pavement art was never discussed as a legislative priority, according to the Sun Sentinel.
For LGBTQ+ advocates and allies, the crackdown is part of a broader pattern. Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which restricts discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, and efforts to ban rainbow lighting on bridges during Pride month, are seen as further evidence of the state’s hostility toward LGBTQ+ visibility. State Representative Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando) told The Advocate the rainbow crosswalk near Pulse “sparked joy and showed our love for all people.”
As the legal and political battles continue, the chalk protests and community outcry serve as reminders that, for many, these crosswalks are more than just paint on pavement. They are testaments to resilience, visibility, and the ongoing fight for equality in the face of adversity.
For now, the rainbows may have been washed away, but the voices calling for inclusion and remembrance remain undimmed.
