War unleashed in Florida over crosswalks with the LGBTQ+ flag
At least nine cities are in dispute with the state government over rainbow-painted pedestrian crossings that officials have ordered be removed
Rainbow crosswalks have sparked a cultural and political war over LGBTQ+ visibility in public spaces in Florida. At least nine cities are in dispute with the state government over crosswalks painted in the colors of the gay flag, which authorities have requested be removed under the justification that they pose a safety risk. Activists and municipal governments point out that this is actually a pretext as part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ broader effort to “erase LGBTQ+ people from public life” and that transportation regulations are being used as a weapon against inclusion. Some have described the campaign as “state bullying” and an extension of the cultural disputes that Florida has been involved in for years.
The order originated from the federal government in early July, when Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued guidance to state governors to “enhance safety,” noting that highways are not “for political messages or works of art.” DeSantis enthusiastically embraced the directive and reinforced his position by declaring that he would not allow highways to be used “for political purposes.”
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) then sent instructions to several cities, including Key West and Miami Beach, historic bastions of the LGBTQ+ community, warning that the decorative crosswalks must be removed or they will lose transportation funding. Since then, Key West, Miami Beach, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach have all clashed with the state this summer.
FDOT argues that the crossing colors could be dangerously distracting to drivers and pedestrians, and has set a deadline of the first week of September for their removal. However, local politicians and LGBTQ+ rights advocates have denounced the order as politically motivated. Various city officials have issued statements of support for their communities as they struggle to decide how to respond. Civil rights groups have also denounced censorship, and protests and legal challenges have already been organized.
The controversy has garnered national attention, and some fear it could set a precedent beyond Florida. Rand Hoch of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council called the orders “plainly anti-LGBTQ+” and accused state and federal officials of “extorting municipalities” by threatening to withdraw funding.
In Miami Beach, famous for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community, protests erupted Monday night against the order to remove the rainbow crossing from Ocean Drive and 12th Street in the heart of South Beach, an emblem of the city’s gay pride march. Members of the city commission signaled plans to appeal the order or seek an extension, and criticized the state for using the safety justification as an excuse. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said she was “outraged” and that these installations “reflect the values” of respect and openness.
In neighboring Fort Lauderdale to the north, protests also erupted Monday. There, officials were instructed to remove several street murals, rainbow designs along the beachfront, and some crosswalks, including one on Sebastian Street over Highway A1A in the popular gay beach district. Mayor Dean Trantalis, the city’s first openly gay mayor, flatly rejected FDOT’s justification, calling it “an attempt to erase the presence of anything related to the LGBTQ+ community” and not a safety issue. “It could be the gay community this year, who knows what it will be next year,” the mayor warned, suggesting that the crackdown on gay pride symbols is part of a growing trend of erasing diversity in Florida’s public spaces.
The first victim of the measure was the crosswalk in front of the LGBTQ+ nightclub Pulse in Orlando, central Florida, near a memorial honoring the 49 people killed in the 2016 shooting at the now-closed nightclub, the deadliest massacre on U.S. soil since 9/11. It was painted black and white last Friday night. Orlando authorities claimed they hadn’t even received advance notice. Mayor Buddy Dyer called the incident “insensitive” and “a cruel political act.”
In Key West, a city known worldwide for its LGBTQ+ pride celebrations, officials received a letter from FDOT on August 15 demanding the removal of rainbow crossings from the popular corners of Duval and Petronia streets, in the heart of the island’s gay district, by September 3. The letter even points to the possible “immediate withholding of state funds” for “any additional violations.” City officials requested an administrative hearing on September 3. Key West Mayor Teri “Dee Dee” Henriquez said the intersection is not a state highway, and that the picturesque crossings “meet FDOT requirements” according to an engineering analysis, and that “there have been no reported accidents at that intersection due to the crossings.”
In another city on the west coast of the peninsula, St. Petersburg, where there are five such art installations, authorities appealed the order. But on August 24, the state denied the request, reminding local officials that failure to remove the murals would result in the withholding of state funding for transportation. Following the denial, Mayor Ken Welch announced that the city would comply and allow FDOT to remove the rainbow crosswalk and related murals by the September 4 deadline. FDOT crews will be responsible for repainting the street, but the city must reimburse the cost. Faced with the capitulation of local officials, many residents protested and said they would repaint the murals with chalk.
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