“Imagine being scared of colors”: Florida destroys iconic rainbow Miami Beach LGBTQ crosswalk
“It tears my heart to see it go away.”
Florida has escalated its marketing campaign towards what it calls “ideological” public symbols by tearing up Miami Beach’s iconic rainbow crosswalk in a single day. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) ordered the elimination as a part of a broader effort to eradicate “pavement art” with social or political themes.
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While conservatives celebrated, many locals voiced that they felt the choice was one more blow in Governor Ron DeSantis’ ongoing battle towards LGBTQ visibility.
Critics query Florida’s priorities
Reports state that the employees and equipment confirmed up on the Miami Beach crosswalk on Sunday night time with out notifying the general public. Though the town had misplaced its enchantment to maintain the beloved image, no date had been set for its elimination. Local tour information Jaminha Piazzetta was on the job on the crosswalk after they immediately arrived.
“We were like, ‘No, no, no,’” she instructed NBC. “It hurts … I was with four people. I was telling the history and suddenly the trucks arrived.”
The space’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood had labored laborious to get the rainbow brick put in years in the past and had been heartbroken to see that effort destroyed.
“This represents blood, sweat and tears,” mentioned drag performer T.P. Lords. “I literally worked so hard on this sidewalk for so many years and struggled to come here and perform and share my art and craft. “It tears my heart to see it go away.”
The staff changed the colourful crosswalk with plain black pavement. Florida launched a state-wide marketing campaign to take away symbols like these on roadways, citing security considerations, earlier this yr. The queer neighborhood and allies, nevertheless, consider that could be a flimsy coverup for the actual motive.
On May 17, 2023, which is the International Day towards Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, DeSantis signed a number of items of laws attacking the neighborhood. This included restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare and recognizing trans youngsters in faculties.
“Imagine being scared of colors”
After footage of the crosswalk’s destruction unfold on X, courtesy of right-wing account End Wokeness, the reactions from outdoors the state flooded in. While some conservatives celebrated the elimination of this neighborhood image of acceptance, others puzzled why that is what a struggling U.S. state is spending its cash on.
“China is building 200mph trains that run through train stations so surreal they look like AI and America is endlessly going back and forth building then digging up rainbow crosswalks,” wrote @butletmejustsay.
“By 2050 all American infrastructure projects will be installing and deleting themed crosswalks,” joked @populusaigeiros.
“Why not spend the money on reducing car dependency or something actually useful instead,” posited @Evere1t4.
Some questioned how anybody is meant to assume that the proper represents robust management after they’re introduced low by the sight of plenty of colours shut collectively.
“The right in the US loves to talk about free speech and complains that progressives are ‘snowflakes,’” @SimonCopland identified. “Yet, leaders are so triggered by a rainbow that they have to spend Government funds to tear it up.”
“Imagine being scared of colors,” wrote @HolyChrisBD.
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