Florida's Department of Transportation has painted over a rainbow crosswalk in Orlando that had served as a tribute to the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. The crosswalk was a prominent feature near the site where 49 people were killed in what was the nation's deadliest mass shooting at the time, per the BBC. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer criticized the removal online, describing it as a "cruel political act" and noting that the crosswalk enhanced pedestrian safety while symbolizing the city's ongoing commitment to remember those lost. State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, who's openly gay, accused the agency of acting without city approval and called the move a "hostile act" by Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration.
DeSantis responded on social media, stating that state roads would not be "commandeered for political purposes." His office declined further comment, directing inquiries to his online statement. DeSantis, a prominent Republican who sought the presidency in 2024, has previously faced criticism for supporting laws that limit LGBTQ representation and discussion in schools, including the expansion of Florida's so-called "Don't Say Gay" law.
The removal comes amid a broader state push against symbols deemed political on public roadways. In June, Florida's DOT formally banned surface or pavement artwork with "social, political, or ideological messages or images," arguing that such markings don't aid "traffic control." Federal transportation officials have also weighed in, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urging all states to keep political statements off public roads, saying that streets should be funded for safety, not as platforms for messaging.
story continues below
Orlando locals aren't exactly acquiescing to the painted-over crosswalk. Per Newsweek, a video circulating on social media shows community members "DIY-ing the rainbow crosswalk" and filling the colors back in with what appears to be chalk. "We are Orlando Strong and no one can ever erase the LGBTQIA+ Community," one person who shared a clip wrote on X.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
