DeSantis Erases Pulse Rainbow Crosswalk

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBT Politics

ORLANDO, FL — (August 22, 2025) — Orlando officials and LGBTQ leaders are condemning what they call a cruel political act after state workers under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration painted over the rainbow-colored crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub, site of the 2016 massacre that killed 49 people.

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Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer blasted the move as “callous” and “a cruel political act,” noting that the crosswalk was more than surface paint — it was a symbol of remembrance and resilience for survivors, families, and the wider LGBTQ community.

“This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando’s commitment to honor the 49 lives taken,” Dyer told ABC News.

Openly gay State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) called the overnight removal a cowardly act.

“They did this in the middle of the night because they were scared of the resistance because they know what they did was wrong,” said Smith.

Watch FOX 35 Coverage of DeSantis’ latest attack on the LGBTQ Community of Orlando, Florida.

Statewide Ban on “Surface Art”

The Florida Department of Transportation had previously warned cities to remove rainbow-colored crosswalks and murals or risk losing funding. A June memo from Assistant Secretary Will Watts prohibited any “surface art” associated with social or political messages, claiming it did not serve a “traffic control purpose.”

Cities like Delray Beach, Key West, and St. Petersburg were all notified. Earlier this week, St. Pete officials asked for an exemption for rainbow intersections, a Black Lives Matter mural, and other community installations.

Gov. DeSantis doubled down on social media, declaring:

“We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”

Remembering Pulse

The Pulse nightclub shooting during Latin Night on June 12, 2016, remains one of the darkest chapters in LGBTQ history, when 49 people were killed and 53 injured in a hate-fueled attack. For many, the rainbow crosswalk stood as both a memorial and a statement of defiance against hate.

After the news spread of its removal, Orlando residents gathered at the site waving rainbow flags. Some attempted to re-create the colors with chalk, only to see their tribute washed away by rain later that afternoon.

Sen. Smith vowed the community would not be erased:

“There will be a rainbow mural nearby that is even bigger, queerer, and more colorful than they ever imagined.”

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