THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION JUST PAINTED OVER AND REMOVED THE LGBTQ PRIDE CROSSWALK IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA

In a controversial move, the DeSantis administration has wiped away the rainbow crosswalk outside Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, erasing a symbol of remembrance for the 49 victims of the 2016 mass shooting.

The removal, which took place overnight on August 21, 2025, came without any prior warning to local officials or the public, sparking immediate outrage. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended the decision, insisting that “state roads should not be hijacked for political purposes.”

However, the LGBTQ+ community and local leaders are calling the move nothing short of an attack. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer slammed the action as “callous” and “cruel,” emphasizing that the crosswalk wasn’t just a political statement—it was also a safety feature for pedestrians.

The crosswalk, a tribute since 2017, has been a visible reminder of the tragedy, as well as an iconic piece of LGBTQ+ visibility. Its removal aligns with a broader directive from the DeSantis administration’s “SAFE ROADS Initiative,” which mandates the elimination of “non-standard” road features, labeling them as “distractions.”

State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, an openly gay lawmaker from Orlando, called the decision “cowardly” and vowed to continue efforts to keep the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility alive.

For many, this marks yet another chapter in the ongoing clash between Florida’s state government and the LGBTQ+ community.