In the early morning hours of Thursday, Florida state officials painted over a rainbow crosswalk in Orlando that had served as a visual tribute to the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The move has sparked an outpouring of frustration and grief from local leaders, survivors, and LGBTQ+ advocates across the country. The rainbow crosswalk, located on Orange Avenue, was part of the Pulse Memorial and had become a symbol of both safety and solidarity. It was installed in 2017 to commemorate the lives lost in the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub that became the site of the deadliest attack on the LGBTQ+ community in United States history.Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called the act a cruel political statement. He expressed deep disappointment in a public message, saying the crosswalk was more than paint on asphaltit was a public commitment to remembering the victims and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. According to Dyer, the crosswalk was originally installed by the state and adhered to all safety standards.Survivor and activist Brandon Wolf described the removal as a desecration of the victims memory. In a message shared with his followers, he said the state did not just remove paintthey tried to erase a powerful declaration of resilience and remembrance. Wolf added that those responsible for the act were lucky they never had to bury someone they loved, only to see their memory stripped away.State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, a longtime LGBTQ+ advocate in Florida, also condemned the removal. He criticized the state for acting in secret, under the cover of night, and accused officials of cowardice. Smith promised the fight was not over and vowed to support a new mural near the Pulse site that would be even more colorful and visible than the original crosswalk.Florida officials have defended the decision, citing new transportation guidelines that restrict nonstandard road markings. These guidelines claim to prioritize safety by ensuring consistent traffic markings that avoid potential distractions. However, critics argue that the decision is more political than practical, especially given the context and symbolism of the Pulse memorial crosswalk.The controversy comes on the heels of a broader push from state and federal officials to remove rainbow crosswalks from public roads. Earlier this summer, a memo from the US Department of Transportation urged all 50 states to eliminate road art that could be seen as political, including rainbow-colored intersections often used to signal LGBTQ+ pride and inclusion.Across Florida, other cities like Key West and Delray Beach have also come under pressure to remove similar crosswalks or face the risk of losing transportation funding. In some communities, local leaders are exploring legal options or looking for alternative ways to maintain visible support for LGBTQ+ residents.Many LGBTQ+ leaders see these moves as a direct effort to push queer identities out of public view. For them, the removal of rainbow crosswalks is not about safetyit is about erasure. The symbolism of these crosswalks is deeply meaningful, especially in places like Orlando, where trauma and healing remain ongoing.Despite the setback, Orlando continues to move forward with plans for a permanent Pulse Memorial. The city is working with community partners and designers to create a lasting space of reflection and tribute. Construction is expected to begin next year, with hopes that the final memorial will open by late 2027.The removal of the Pulse crosswalk has reignited a broader conversation about queer visibility, public memory, and who gets to decide what stories are told in shared spaces. LGBTQ+ advocates are calling on communities to remain vigilant and vocal, pushing back against what many see as an attempt to erase hard-fought symbols of pride and remembrance.As the conversation continues, one thing remains clear: the memory of the 49 lives lost at Pulse will not be painted over so easily.Source