Why Is Florida Cracking Down on Rainbow Crosswalks?

Just when I thought Florida had finally hit peak “Does this really need to be a headline?” territory, Miami Beach and a colorful lineup of other cities are being told to scrub away their rainbow crosswalks . Let that sink in for a second—apparently, the real danger to public safety isn’t traffic, hurricanes, or the state legislature, but vibrant stripes of paint that might suggest a street is, dare I say, festive. The transportation officials want all those cheery LGBTQ+ tributes gone, while local leaders and advocates are out there defending every last hue . I mean, isn’t it wild to think that removing a crosswalk could spark more debate than removing a pothole? It all begs the very modern question: if a rainbow crosswalk falls in Miami and no one’s around to Instagram it, does it make a statement at all? Riddle me that—and if you’re itching to see the whole circus, here’s the source: LEARN MORE.

The Florida Department of Transportation has ordered Miami Beach and at least eight other cities to remove rainbow-colored crosswalks, prompting local leaders and advocates to push back in defense of LGBTQ+ expression. What do you think?

“This will only make it more difficult to determine the sexual orientation of streets.”

Mary Beth Holcroft, Jockey’s Apprentice

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“Aw, but I was going to graffiti a slur over it!”

Travis Levens, Goat Milker

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“This sort of loud, flamboyant coloration has no place in Miami.”

Bret Ruppelt, Overture Critic