"Rainbow crosswalks have sparked a cultural and political war over LGBTQ+ visibility in public spaces in Florida. At least nine cities are in dispute with the state government over crosswalks painted in the colors of the gay flag, which authorities have requested be removed under the justification that they pose a safety risk. Activists and municipal governments point out that this is actually a pretext as part of Governor Ron DeSantis' broader effort to erase LGBTQ+ people from public life"
"Some have described the campaign as state bullying and an extension of the cultural disputes that Florida has been involved in for years. The order originated from the federal government in early July, when Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued guidance to state governors to enhance safety, noting that highways are not for political messages or works of art. DeSantis enthusiastically embraced the directive and reinforced his position by declaring that he would not allow highways to be used for political purposes."
"The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) then sent instructions to several cities, including Key West and Miami Beach, historic bastions of the LGBTQ+ community, warning that the decorative crosswalks must be removed or they will lose transportation funding. Since then, Key West, Miami Beach, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach have all clashed with the state this summer."
Rainbow crosswalks in Florida have triggered conflicts between at least nine cities and state transportation officials. State authorities, citing safety and federal guidance, ordered removal of decorative crosswalks painted in gay-flag colors and threatened to withhold transportation funding. Governor Ron DeSantis supported the directive, framing highways as inappropriate for political messages. Local officials, activists, and civil rights groups view the order as politically motivated and a pretext to erase LGBTQ+ presence from public spaces. Multiple municipalities with strong LGBTQ+ histories face deadlines to remove the crosswalks while debating legal and civic responses.
Read at english.elpais.com
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