Florida Removes Rainbow Pulse Nightclub Memorial Crosswalk

Florida state officials, under the administrations of Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump, have painted over a rainbow crosswalk memorial outside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that honored the 49 victims of the 2016 mass shooting, many of whom were LGBTQ+ and Latine. The removal, done overnight without notifying the City of Orlando, has been widely condemned by local officials including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, who called it a cruel political and hostile act that disrespects the victims and community. This action follows a June 2025 state law banning pavement art with social or political messages, and is part of a broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ visibility and political demonstrations on public land, including previous legislation targeting LGBTQ+ issues in schools. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has also urged states to remove political road art, emphasizing that streets should serve safety purposes rather than political messaging. Community members have responded by restoring the rainbow colors with chalk and pledging to create a new, more colorful mural, reaffirming Orlando's commitment to honoring the Pulse victims. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over LGBTQ+ representation and political expression in Florida under DeSantis and Trump’s leadership.