The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is intensifying its efforts to force state municipalities to destroy their Pride-themed crosswalks under the guise that the rainbow street art is distracting to drivers.Commissioners in the city of Delray Beach recently voted to maintain its rainbow intersection which was installed and paid for by the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) after an impassioned speech by Vice Mayor Rob Long. Related Republicans launch investigation into Kansas school districts for not outing trans kids Long pointed out that despite threats, the FDOT never issued a formal enforcement letter, nor did Delray officials make any plans to install a Pride symbol elsewhere after plans to destroy the intersection were announced.But now, the FDOT has issued a letter to city manager Terrence Moore demanding the city remove the mural by September 3 or the Florida Department of Transportation will remove them by any appropriate method necessary without further notice. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The letter also said the state would charge the city for the costs of the removal and may withhold state funds if the city does not cooperate, The Palm Beach Post reported. A similar letter has been issued to officials in the city of Key West.A statement from Moore to CBS12 conceded that now that a formal order has been issued, the rainbow art will likely be removed: Like several other communities across Florida, the city of Delray Beach is required to bring the pride intersection into compliance with public safety standards, he said. This work is expected to begin in the coming days. A commission meeting on Tuesday will decide whether the city will challenge the order with an administrative hearing.In his speech, Long acknowledged that a formal order would require the city to comply, but he also urged commissioners to find an alternate way to publicly display a symbol of LGBTQ+ acceptance. Thats the minimum respect that our community deserves, he said. Lets be honest. We all know this is not about traffic safety. This is political, Long said. Its part of the same culture war climate where symbols of inclusion are targeted precisely because they represent acceptance. Its about erasing the visibility of our LGBTQ+ people at the same time when their rights are again under direct threat. He emphasized that the city has a long history of celebrating marginalized communities. Thats not just branding; its part of our civic identity.Symbols matter, he said. They tell our residents, visitors, and especially our youth that they are seen, valued, and safe here. Removing our pride intersection without commission consensus and without a plan to preserve that symbol elsewhere sends the wrong message at the wrong time.Long also disproved claims that the Pride art is distracting to drivers, a claim that has been made repeatedly by federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Beyond its symbolic weight to the LGBTQ+ community, the Pride intersection has a practical benefit, Long said, citing a study across 17 states that found crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists drop 50% at painted intersections. The study also found that injuries resulting from crashes drop 37% and found a notable increase in drivers yielding to pedestrians, Long said.This data comes from theBloomberg Philanthropies 2022 Asphalt Art Safety Study, which found a 25% decrease in conflicts between drivers and pedestrians, a 27% increase in drivers immediately yielding to pedestrians, and a 38% decrease in pedestrians crossing when the walk signal was not lit at intersections involving public art.But in his enthusiastic response to Duffys claims, Florida Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue exposed the true motivation behind the campaign to remove the crosswalk art while also praising a law signed by DeSantis banning nonstandard surface markings, signage, and signals that do not directly contribute to traffic safety or control can lead to distractions or misunderstandings, jeopardizing both driver and pedestrian safety.Floridas proactive efforts to ensure we keep our transportation facilities free & clear of political ideologies were cemented into law by @GovRonDeSantis, Perdueposted to socials. Great to now have our federal partners also aligned behind this same common-sense policy.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.