In a bold act of defiance, Orlando community members and LGBTQ+ advocates have restored a rainbow crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub memorial after it was quietly removed overnight by order of Florida transportation officials, following a directive from the federal government.
The crosswalk, originally painted in 2017 to honor the 49 lives lost in the Pulse nightclub shooting—the deadliest attack on LGBTQ+ people in U.S. history, was painted over earlier this week without advance notice. In response, a group of local residents returned to the site with chalk and paint, determined to recreate the vibrant symbol of remembrance and resistance.
Videos shared to social media by community members, including LGBTQ+ activist Jeremy Rodriguez (@jeremy_rodrigue), show individuals kneeling on the pavement, hand-drawing the rainbow stripes back onto the intersection near the Pulse memorial. Among those present was Florida State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, the first openly gay Latino elected to the state legislature.
“While this attack was meant to demoralize us and push us back in the closet, Orlando refused to be erased,” Smith told Newsweek. “It was inspiring to see so many local residents spring into action in response to the Governor’s cowardly abuse of power.”
The crosswalk was initially approved during former Republican Governor Rick Scott’s administration and had remained a fixture near the memorial for eight years. Its sudden removal was executed under a policy change from the U.S. Department of Transportation, now led by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. In a July 1 post on X (formerly Twitter), Duffy stated that “political banners have no place on public roads,” adding that federal road funds should only support features that “advance safety, and nothing else.”
Critics, however, say the move is politically motivated and part of a broader agenda to erase LGBTQ+ visibility from public life.
‘A Cruel Political Act’
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a Democrat, condemned the crosswalk’s removal in a statement.
“This callous action of hastily removing part of a memorial to what was at the time our nation’s largest mass shooting, without any supporting safety data or public discussion, is a cruel political act,” Dyer said.
He added that the crosswalk, which enhanced visibility for pedestrians visiting the memorial, was approved in full coordination with the state. “While the state works to erase the memory of the victims of the Pulse tragedy by painting over the crosswalk, our community’s commitment to honoring the 49, and completing the memorial, will never waver.”
A Community Responds
One of the most poignant voices in the aftermath was Brandon Wolf, a Pulse survivor and prominent LGBTQ+ advocate. In a statement on X, Wolf called the state’s action “a desecration of memory.”
“In the dark of night, they came to erase our show of solidarity, our declaration that we will never forget,” he wrote. “The cowards who feel threatened by our lives should feel lucky they didn’t have to bury the ones they love.”
Later, Wolf shared an image of the restored rainbow crosswalk with a simple message: “I love you, Orlando.”
Smith also posted a video from the repainted site, stating, “Of course they did this in the middle of the night… because they knew what they were doing was wrong.” He added that he was proud to join Orlando residents in “recoloring the rainbow crosswalk,” emphasizing, “We reminded everyone that love always wins.”
GLAAD, Advocates Condemn State’s Decision
National LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD issued a statement following the crosswalk’s removal and grassroots restoration.
“Orlando community members continue to show up for each other, in grief, outrage, and love,” a spokesperson said to Newsweek. “LGBTQ people and our history will never be erased, and the lives taken at Pulse will never be forgotten.”
GLAAD also challenged claims that the crosswalk presented any safety hazards, noting, “To our knowledge, the state has never provided evidence of safety issues related to the rainbow crosswalk, which has been in place for eight years.”
