Let’s Talk Truth: DeSantis Isn’t Removing Pride Crosswalks for Safety—He’s Erasing Us
I’ve got to be real with you—all the talk about “traffic safety” being the reason for removing rainbow crosswalks in Florida is nonsense. If cities know it’s important to our community, to our kids, to our humanity, then maybe it’s time we stop pretending this is anything but a political attack. Because in truth, that’s exactly what this is.
What’s Going On?
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is threatening to remove Pride-themed street art—the beautiful rainbow crosswalks some municipalities pay for—if cities don’t tear them down themselves by September 3. Otherwise, FDOT will just wipe them out “by any appropriate method necessary,” no warning, no nuance.
In Delray Beach, city commissioners just voted to keep theirs, and for good reason. Vice Mayor Rob Long gave one of the most powerful, honest speeches I’ve heard in a while:
“We all know this is not about traffic safety. This is political … symbols of inclusion are targeted precisely because they represent acceptance. It’s about erasing the visibility of our LGBTQ+ people.”
Bingo. That nails it.
Why These Symbols Matter—a Lot
It's not just paint on concrete. These crosswalks tell our youth, our families, and even travelers: you are seen, you are valued, you belong. Removing them without even discussing where to put a replacement sends a loud, clear message: your existence is not welcome here. That’s not branding—it’s basic human dignity.
This Is Part of a Larger, Sinister Pattern
Look closer. This crackdown on Pride crosswalks isn’t happening in isolation—it’s part of a widespread effort across Florida to squash LGBTQ+ visibility:
- In St. Petersburg, protesters were rallying to save not just Pride murals, but Black history murals too—calling out a pattern of erasing civil rights symbols and stories.
- The FDOT banned rainbow lighting on state bridges, restricting displays to red, white, and blue—meaning even a ceremonial show of Pride was deemed too divisive.
This is about making us invisible.
What We Can Do—Because We Must
The forces behind these moves? They want us to shrink, hide, and apologize for who we are. But we mustn’t.
- Show up and speak up at council meetings.
- Share truths, like what Vice Mayor Rob Long said—explicitly: this is political, this is erasure.
- Support cities that stand firm in keeping their Pride displays, and push them to go further—plan replacements if something is forced down.
- Amplify our symbols, our pride, and our resistance.
Because the fight isn’t just for crosswalks or murals—it’s about refusing to let hate invisibly win.
Final Thoughts
Removing a rainbow crosswalk isn’t an administrative choice. It’s a message: your existence is expendable. But let me tell you—we are not invisible.
So, show up, speak out, and resist. Because our full, loud, colorful humanity is worth everything. And no one should ever make us feel otherwise.
Read more at https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/08/desantis-admin-cracks-down-on-pride-displays-its-about-erasing-our-lgbtq-people/
