Key West’s rainbow-colored Pride crosswalks, long a symbol of the island’s LGBTQ+ community, were removed under cover of darkness early Tuesday, less than nine hours after a state ruling declared them invalid.
In the early morning hours of Sept. 9, photos and videos began circulating on social media showing the crosswalks at Duval and Petronia streets had been stripped and covered.
It was not immediately clear whether city crews or the Florida Department of Transportation carried out the removal.
One Facebook post from Jordan Upchurch included video showing the barren crosswalks with several KWPD officers looking on. He asked the officers if it was the city or the state that covered them.
Several of the officers responded, but their responses were unintelligible.
Upchurch is then heard asking “You weren’t here when they covered them?”
One of the officers can be heard saying “Yeah. Probably.”
On Monday afternoon, FDOT issued a final judgment ruling the decorative crosswalks did not comply with state standards for traffic control devices. The decision marked the end of a months-long dispute between Key West and the state.
City leaders had initially vowed to fight the order, even hiring attorney Howard DuBosar, who represented Delray Beach in a similar legal battle. But the effort ended Sept. 4 when the city commission, by a 4-2 vote, passed a resolution directing staff not to pursue further legal action if FDOT’s ruling went against Key West.
The measure, introduced by Commissioner Donie Lee and seconded by Commissioner Aaron Castillo, effectively tied the city’s hands. Commissioners Sam Kaufman and Monica Haskell voted against the resolution.
The rapid removal of the crosswalks underscores the growing tension between local governments, state lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, which has sought to eliminate what the governor has described as “woke” symbolism from Florida’s roads and public spaces.
This is an evolving story. Watch this space.
