In Orlando, Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration ordered part of the Pulse memorial painted over during the night. The LGBTQ community of Orlando, including Equality Florida and Orange County (FL) Democrats, condemned Governor Ron DeSantis for ordering part of the Pulse memorial painted over during the night.
The memorial honors the 49 lives lost in the Pulse nightclub massacre, one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. Equality Florida held a peaceful gathering at the Pulse Memorial, and those who were unable to attend showed their support by displaying rainbows at home, in public spaces, and online using the hashtag #ShowYourRainbow.
Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida, called the action “a cowardly abuse of power,” accusing DeSantis of attempting to erase LGBTQ visibility and censor history. Smith said, “Like every cruel attack before it — the bans, the censorship, the relentless bigotry — this act is meant to scare us back into the closet. It’s meant to make us doubt our safety and our right to exist in public.
But while we’re angry, we are not at all defeated.”
Orange County (FL) Democrats also joined the protest by repainting in chalk the crosswalk in rainbow colors. Overnight, the FDOT repainted the crosswalk a second time to eliminate the Pulse memorial rainbow. This morning The Florida Highway Patrol has been stationed near the memorial, and officials said anyone attempting to damage the crosswalk will face charges and arrest. The situation at the Pulse Memorial is very fluid and will be followed closely by Hotspots Happening Out.
