On the night of Wednesday into Thursday, August 21, 2025, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) painted over the rainbow-colored crosswalk on Orange Avenue near the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. The crosswalk, created in 2017, symbolized LGBTQ+ pride and served as a memorial to the 49 victims of the 2016 mass shooting.
The removal followed a new directive from the Trump administration, part of a safety initiative sent by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to all 50 governors on July 1, banning “surface art” with social or political messages on state roads.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer condemned the move as a “cruel political act.”
“We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue,” Dyer said.
“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.”
We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes. https://t.co/AXY1qxsZNW
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 21, 2025
Background: Pulse Nightclub Tragedy
The Pulse shooting, carried out by Omar Mateen, killed 49 people and injured 53, marking the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history at the time.
The attack left a lasting impact on Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community, and the rainbow crosswalk had served as a visible memorial and symbol of pride.
Community and Survivor Response
The removal sparked immediate backlash. Brandon Wolf, a Pulse survivor, called it a “desecration” of the victims’ memory.
State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith called the move “illegal vandalism” and pledged a “bigger, queerer” rainbow mural nearby.
Volunteers Take Action
Hours after the crosswalk was removed, volunteers used chalk to fill in the rainbow colors, keeping the memorial alive. Others brought signs calling for the crosswalk to be restored. Social media posts showed mourners leaving flowers and condemning the removal, particularly its timing during orientation events and lack of prior notice.
PHOTO: Volunteers are coloring in the repaved rainbow crosswalk in front of Pulse Nightclub with chalk in Orlando. The rainbow crosswalk was erased by FDOT overnight.
📷 @CarlosGSmith pic.twitter.com/56WxR8oaBA
— Jerry Houston 🏳️🌈 (@radiohouston) August 21, 2025
Residents expressed frustration that the memorial was removed without supporting safety data, citing the Pulse victims and the crosswalk’s symbolic importance.
Broader Political Implications
Critics say the removal reflects Florida’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues, including the 2023 expansion of the “Don’t Say Gay” law, and accuse the government of targeting symbolic memorials in a political culture war, according to BBC News.
Other rainbow crosswalks in Delray Beach and Key West face similar threats, with FDOT warning funding could be withheld if they are not removed. Orlando officials, who purchased the Pulse site in 2023 for a permanent memorial, reaffirmed their commitment to honoring the victims. Mayor Dyer stated:
“We will not abandon our efforts to preserve the memory of the 49 killed.”
