Early this morning, crews from the Florida Department of Transportation quietly painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk in Orlando.
The rainbow crosswalk was a symbol of queer resilience after the deadly 2016 nightclub massacre that left 49 people fatally shot in what was the largest mass shooting in the country at the time.
The erasure is due to a new directive from Donald Trump’s homophobic Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy about roadway safety that stressed “consistent” roadway markings that are “free from distractions.”
What this is really about is trying to erase LGBTQ people.
It’s worth noting that the state had previously approved the rainbow design which was fully compliant with national safety standards. And research shows colorful crosswalks actually improve pedestrian safety.
Created in 2017, the memorial crosswalk was unanimously approved by the city council.
The state department of transportation painted over the landmark overnight. https://t.co/FVjFmqcENy
— The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) August 21, 2025
More from The Advocate:
By sunrise, the vibrant symbol of resilience had been replaced with the stark black-and-white lines of a standard crossing.
For LGBTQ+ leaders, allies, and survivors of the Pulse massacre, the timing and secrecy felt like an act of desecration.
“In the middle of the night, FDOT painted over our rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse Memorial,” Florida state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando, posted on X. “A tragedy that we have worked so hard to find power in pain. A rainbow crosswalk that sparked joy and showed our love for all people.”
In the middle of the night, FDOT painted over our rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse Memorial. A place where 49 mostly LGBTQ+ people were murdered. A tragedy that we have worked so hard to find power in pain. A rainbow crosswalk that sparked joy and showed our love for all people.
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, PhD (@AnnaForFlorida) August 21, 2025
As I am writing this report, Rep. Eskamani posted a photo to her Instagram apparently showing the rainbow already back, colored in with what looks like chalk.
Last night, the DeSantis administration snuck in and tried to quietly erase the state-approved crosswalk to honor the 49 people murdered at Pulse Nightclub.
So this afternoon, the community showed up to do a little chalking.
I love you, Orlando. pic.twitter.com/gDDCaFY7oC
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) August 22, 2025
In a statement, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called the removal “a cruel political act.”
“We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue.”
“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 discussion is a cruel political act.”
“This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for the large number of pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando’s commitment to honor the 49 lives taken on June 12, 2016.”
We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue. But we know that while this crosswalk has been removed, Orlando’s commitment to honoring the 49 can never be erased. pic.twitter.com/4LdXvLUiom
— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) August 21, 2025
In the dark of night, they came to erase our show of solidarity, our declaration that we will never forget.
The cowards who feel threatened by our lives should feel lucky they didn’t have to bury the ones they love — then watch the state come & desecrate their memory.
— Brandon Wolf (@brandonwolf.bsky.social) August 21, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Cruel political acts are the ACTIONS of elected officials in the @citybeautiful. Their failure to build a memorial & conduct thorough investigations; their ongoing exploitation; backing a fraudulent bar owner for years & giving her $2M of taxpayer $$$.https://t.co/37y8K5VdCd
— Pulse Families & Survivors for Justice! (@NoPulseMuseum) August 21, 2025
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