State transportation officials have ordered the city of Key West to remove its rainbow crosswalks by Sept. 3, or the state will do it and then charge the city for the cost of said removal. Refusal to comply could result in the city’s loss of state transportation funding, an Aug. 15 letter from the Florida Department of Transportation states.
Attorneys for Key West will seek an exemption from the ban at an administrative hearing in Orlando at 10 a.m. on Sept. 3, but the letter FDOT left little room for hope that such an exemption will be granted.
With the rainbows’ erasure seemingly inevitable, Key West community members will discuss “contingency plans,” at a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Frederick Douglass Community Center, 111 Olivia St.
As cities throughout Florida cover their painted crosswalks to comply with a new state law banning painted pavement markings, Key West residents realize the clock is ticking on the pride crosswalks that have brightened Duval and Petronia streets since 2015.
State transportation officials last week waited until late at night to paint over a similar crosswalk in Orlando, where it had been installed in 2016 as a memorial to the 49 people killed in a mass shooting at Pulse nightclub. Residents promptly replaced the rainbow crosswalk with one made with chalk that was soon washed away by rain. Other cities have taken steps to remove colorful crosswalks on their own, despite public opposition and outcry.
The Key West Business Guild will host the community meeting on Aug. 28, bringing together “city leaders, advocates and community voices to provide updates on the legal status of the crosswalks, reflect on their history and significance, and explore contingency plans should removal move forward,” states a press release announcing the meeting.
Local historian Cori Convertito, PhD, who is also president of the business guild, will moderate the discussion that will also include city manager Brian L. Barroso, who will provide legal and procedural updates on the removal request.
“A key focus of the discussion will be exploring alternatives to preserve LGBTQ+ visibility and safety in the event the crosswalks are removed,” the press release states.
Joe Saunders of Equality Florida will offer advocacy insights and statewide context for LGBTQ+ visibility, and additional community historians and advocates will reflect on the original installation of the crosswalks and their significance to Key West and beyond.
“These crosswalks are not just symbols of LGBTQ+ pride; they are a reflection of the spirit of Key West, a community that values diversity, freedom and self-expression,” said Rob Dougherty, executive director of the Key West Business Guild. “Their removal, driven by outside political overreach and pressure, sends a troubling message: that decisions made by and for this community can be overridden without our input. This meeting will give our community a chance to hear the facts, provide input and work together on how we move forward.”
The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 at Frederick Douglass Community Center, 111 Olivia St. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
