The post Florida’s Rainbow Crosswalks—Including Dedication To Pulse Victims—Are Latest Culture War Target appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Topline A culture war is raging in several Florida cities over the painting of crosswalks after the state covered up a rainbow mural in Orlando meant to honor the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, sparking a battle between local, state and federal officials who’ve said public roads are no place for “political banners.” A rainbow crosswalk was removed overnight outside of Pulse nightclub in Orlando, one of the most significant LGBTQ sites in Florida, as part of state and federal transportation officials’ aim to wipe “political banners” from public roadways. TNS Key Facts Department of Transportation earlier this month in what state officials called a crackdown on decorative street art that impacted more than a dozen enhanced intersections in Orlando. Protestors have re-colored the Pulse Memorial crosswalk several times since, and FDOT workers have followed behind them covering their work and on Friday installed new signs at the location reading “Defacing Roadway Prohibited” and “No Impeding Traffic.” One activist told a local news station that he was warned by Florida Highway Patrol troopers that he could be arrested and charged with criminal mischief if caught replacing the rainbow art again. Cities all over the state of Florida have been ordered to remove rainbow crosswalks, which for years have been installed in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, with state officials citing noncompliance with traffic control guidelines as reasons for the others. Activists and elected officials, however, have called the move anti-LGBTQ+ after Republican Gov. Ron Desantis tweeted, “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes,” backing up statements made by President Donald Trump’s transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, who in July called rainbow crosswalks “political banners.” Many, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, have pointed out that the rainbow crosswalk was first installed in close coordination…

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Filed under: News - @ August 29, 2025 6:27 pm