WILTON MANORS, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made his thoughts quite clear when speaking on the issue of rainbow crosswalks being removed across the state.
“I think it’s just a change in policy, and we don’t want to be in a situation where we say, ‘Well, that mural is fine and that’s not, then you get into a content thing and all that. No, we’re just not doing it. We’re out of that business in Florida,” he said.
The Florida Department of Transportation says crosswalks must be painted to code: No murals. No flags. Nothing extra. All in the name of safety.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, whose city recently received a noncompliance letter from FDOT, said the state’s directive amounts to an attempt to erase LGBTQ+ visibility.
“It’s an attempt to try to erase the presence of anything that has to do with the gay lesbian community,” Trantalis said.
He said the city will meet with commissioners to decide how to respond. Fort Lauderdale is the latest city to receive such a letter, following Miami Beach, Key West, and Delray Beach.
But many aren’t buying it.
“Power in numbers, and I think we have to show it’s not just a nine-foot drag queen in feathers that cares about this, it’s community members, voting community members that care about it,” said activist Eric Swanson.
Monday, multiple protests were held in Broward County as demonstrators said the rainbow crosswalks are safe and symbolic.
“What statistics do you have that they aren’t safe?” asked Swanson. “Because they’re out there and they are safer than what people are claiming.”
Still, the governor is standing firm, backing the state’s decision.
FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue agrees.
“We have a new law, we have a new standard and we’re simply implementing that standard across the board,” Perdue said. “Pavement art is not allowed, and we’re removing everything that’s not compliant with state, federal standards and that’s the approach that we’re taking.”
This goes beyond rainbow crosswalks. In Tampa, FDOT will be painting over a Back the Blue law enforcement flag.
Last month, Hialeah officials announced they wanted to paint dominoes on their crosswalks.
FDOT is demanding the crosswalks be brought up to code by Sept. 4, or the state will take action.
Cities can apply for an administrative proceeding to contest the order. Fort Lauderdale commissioners are scheduled to meet Wednesday evening to decide how the city will move forward.
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