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Florida removes rainbow crosswalk honouring Pulse nightclub victims

August 21, 2025

Florida's Department of Transportation has removed a rainbow crosswalk that served as part of a memorial to the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer condemned the removal as a "cruel political act," while State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith accused the DeSantis administration of vandalizing city property without notice or approval. Governor Ron DeSantis defended the action, stating Florida would not allow state roads to be "commandeered for political purposes," aligning with a broader state initiative to remove rainbow crosswalks and recent federal guidance urging states to remove political statements from roads.

Who is affected

  • The city of Orlando
  • LGBTQ community
  • Families and friends of the 49 Pulse nightclub shooting victims
  • Pedestrians who visit the memorial
  • Orlando residents

What action is being taken

  • Florida's Department of Transportation is actively removing rainbow-colored crosswalks across the state
  • The state transportation agency is notifying cities they risk losing transportation funds unless they remove rainbow crosswalks
  • The agency is enforcing a prohibition on pavement art associated with "social, political or ideological messages or images"

Why it matters

  • The crosswalk served as part of a memorial to honor the 49 people killed in the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting
  • The rainbow design symbolized Orlando's commitment to remembering the victims of what was then the largest mass shooting in US history
  • The removal is perceived by some officials as a politically motivated action against LGBTQ representation
  • The incident represents ongoing tensions regarding LGBTQ visibility in Florida under Governor DeSantis's administration

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC