today is the ten year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. a full decade ago, i lost a friend and a coworker. i was lucky. i had friends that lost several people. today, please remember and fight for all those that have died to live the life they should have been free to. i'll always remember you, Cory.
People took matters into their own hands after the commemorative crosswalk was removed, and drew it back onto the ground.
People in Orlando have defied Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and reinstated a rainbow crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub, after Florida officials removed the painted crossing installed in memory of the 49 people killed at the site in 2016.
The restoration was led by local community members and LGBTQ+ advocates who gathered at the intersection following the overnight state-directed repainting. In a video shared to social media by the account @jeremy_rodrigue, people can be seen DIY-ing the rainbow crosswalk and drawing the colors back onto the ground.
"While this attack was meant to demoralize us and push us back in the closet, Orlando refused to be erased," Democratic state Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, who became the first openly gay Latino elected to the Florida legislature in 2016, told Newsweek. "It was inspiring to see so many local residents spring into action in response to the Governor's cowardly abuse of power."
Why It Matters
The Pulse nightclub shooting remains the deadliest act of violence against LGBTQ+ people in U.S. history. The crosswalk had become a visible symbol of mourning and solidarity, as well as pedestrian safety near the memorial site.
What To Know
The removal of the rainbow crosswalk— painted in 2017 and approved during the administration of former Republican Governor Rick Scott—has sparked fierce backlash from city officials, survivors, and LGBTQ+ organizations who say it was eliminated in the dead of night with no warning.
The crosswalk was painted over following a directive from the Trump administration. In a letter to governors last month, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy instructed states to "eliminate" distractions on public roads. He wrote on X at the time: "Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks."
Newsweek has reached out to the Florida Transportation Authority via email for comment.
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"This callous action of hastily removing part of a memorial to what was at the time our nation's largest mass shooting, without any supporting safety data, or discussion is a cruel political act," Democratic Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer told Newsweek.
"While the state works to erase the memory of the victims of the Pulse tragedy by painting over the crosswalk, our community's commitment to honoring the 49, and completing the memorial, will never waver," he said.
Smith described the removal as a "disgusting betrayal," in a post on X and in a two-minute-long video in front of the painted-over crosswalk said, "Of course they did this in the middle of the night... because they knew what they were doing is wrong."
DeSantis said in response to Smith's video, "We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes."
Now, Florida residents have used chalk to recreate the crosswalk.
Brandon Wolf, who survived the Pulse attack shared a post in response to the community chalking the crosswalk, writing on X, "I love you, Orlando."
Wolf had previously written on X, in response to the removal of the crosswalk, "In the dark of night, they came to erase our show of solidarity, our declaration that we will never forget. The cowards who feel threatened by our lives should feel lucky they didn't have to bury the ones they love — then watch the state come & desecrate their memory."
"I was proud to join several others in recoloring the rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse nightclub memorial," said Smith.
"We turned out, painted the neighborhood with even more rainbows, and reminded everyone that love always wins," he added.
GLAAD, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group, shared a post to Instagram about the removal and restoration of the crosswalk. A spokesperson for the non-profit organization told Newsweek: "Orlando community members continue to show up for each other, in grief, outrage, and love. LGBTQ people and our history will never be erased, and the lives taken at Pulse will never be forgotten."
This is not the first time the government has sought to remove LGBTQ+ symbols from public display. Following President Donald Trump's return to office, the State Department has enacted a "one flag policy," banning U.S. embassies and overseas missions from flying pride or Black Lives Matter flags. The administration has also taken steps to unravel protections for transgender people, and there are concerns that the Supreme Court may overturn its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark case that guaranteed the right to same-sex marriage nationwide.
What People Are Saying
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, in a statement shared with Newsweek: "The City of Orlando's safety crosswalks were all installed in close coordination with the state and adhere to national safety standards. In fact, the crosswalk that is part of the Pulse Memorial was installed by the state. This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for the large number of pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando's commitment to honor the 49 lives taken on June 12, 2016."
A spokesperson for GLAAD told Newsweek over email: "To our knowledge, the state has never proved that there is a safety issue with a rainbow crosswalk which has been in place for eight years. True safety is rooted in the freedom to be ourselves, to live free from government sponsored discrimination and lies, and free from the horror of gun violence that every Florida elected official should move heaven and earth to address. LGBTQ people everywhere and our allies will always honor Pulse with action and commitment to everyone's freedom, safety, and success."
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a post on X shared on July 1: "Political banners have no place on public roads. I'm reminding recipients of @USDOT roadway funding that it's limited to features advancing safety, and nothing else. It's that simple."
What Happens Next
It is currently unclear how Republican politicians will respond to the volunteers' efforts to reinstate the crosswalk.
Update, 08/22/25 11:10 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Florida state Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith.
A friend of mine was at Pulse that same night. She got sick to her stomach and left about an hour before the shooting happened.
I didn't know she'd left early when I heard the news. It's nothing like the experience of actually being there, but Pulse is burned into my mind because of it. I can't even describe the fear I felt, I'd never wish it on anyone.
Thank you for sharing the reminder of it, it's so important people don't forget
