Miami Beach ordered to remove the rainbow crosswalk after losing legal battle

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) ordered the city of Miami Beach to remove the rainbow crosswalk at Ocean Drive and 12th Street after losing the municipal appeal to keep it, reported Commissioner Alex Fernández.

The state resolution was issued this Friday afternoon, concluding a dispute that had been ongoing for a month.

According to Fernández, the FDOT determined that the crossing does not comply with state traffic control regulations, and therefore demands its removal. The city had filed an appeal after the state requested the removal of the crossing in August.

The official argument from the state aims to "maintain consistent roadway safety standards" at all pedestrian crossings in Florida.

Critics of the measure argue, on the other hand, that it is an action directed at the LGBTQ community.

In a public message, Fernández stated that public safety is his priority and expressed respect for the importance of road safety; however, he deemed the decision "heartbreaking" and contrary to the performance of the intersection, which he described as "one of the safest on Ocean Drive." He also affirmed that the city will seek other ways to celebrate inclusion.

The commissioner emphasized the symbolic value of the step: a reminder of the values of diversity, inclusion, and equality in Miami Beach and a tribute to the legacy of Leonard Horowitz, associated with the pastel palette that characterizes the local Art Déco. In his view, the ruling reflects that the rights gained “remain vulnerable.”

Fernández assured that Miami Beach will continue to celebrate inclusivity, even though “now we have to find new ways to do so.”

The dispute falls under a state directive to remove rainbow crosswalks in Florida in order to "standardize road safety criteria," a measure that has sparked local controversy. With the appeal denied, the municipality is obligated to comply with the FDOT's resolution.

DeSantis' order

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the cities in the state in August to remove pedestrian crossings painted in rainbow colors and warned that failure to do so could result in losing millions of dollars in funding.

The measure affects communities such as Miami Beach, Key West, and Fort Lauderdale, where these symbols of LGBTQ pride and inclusion have been established.

The municipalities had until early September to comply with the provision. Commissioner Alex Fernández appealed this measure and defended that these rainbow crosswalks "are a symbol of safety not only for the LGBTQ community but also for other residents."

Among the first to be erased was the crosswalk in front of Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the site of the 2016 massacre that left 49 victims.

The founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Rand Hoch, described the orders as "a clearly anti-LGBTQ push" and denounced that the government is "blackmailing municipalities with the withdrawal of funds," the press agency emphasized.

Human rights defenders warn that the measure reflects a broader offensive against symbols of inclusion and diversity.

Frequently asked questions about the removal of the rainbow crosswalk in Miami Beach