Florida gay bar responds to state’s removal of rainbow crosswalks in the best way possible
We look forward to Governor 'Don't Say Gay' DeSantis’ reaction to this beautiful decor.
Mark
A gay bar in St. Petersburg, Florida has responded to the removal of rainbow crosswalks across the state in a defiant manner, setting the stage for a localized yet powerful form of protest.
As we’ve previously reported, under the authority of Florida Governor Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis, and in line with a new ban on “non-compliant pavement surface markings”, state authorities have written to local cities in recent weeks demanding they remove rainbow crosswalks.
Politics, but make it gay!
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It echoes wider guidance from the Tr*mp administration to remove political messages from roadways.
A couple of weeks ago, the Florida Department of Transportation outraged many by removing the rainbow crosswalk beside the site of Pulse nightclub in Orlando. For many, the crosswalk was a part of the wider memorial to those who were murdered at the venue in 2016. Police are now patrolling the site and arresting anyone who attempts to chalk back the rainbow colors.
Governor DeSantis has defended the crosswalk’s removal, tweeting at the time, “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”
Cocktail St Pete
As a reaction, the St. Petersburg gay bar Cocktail St. Pete has decided to refresh its window decals.
If DeSantis wants rainbows removed from the streets of Florida, this bar is fighting back. Its windows are ablaze with rainbows, but also prominently feature the word “Cocktail” broken up with “tail” somewhat smaller. Oh, and there’s ‘Hard’ and ‘raging’, too.
On Instagram, the bar said, “Last night the state painted over the Pulse Memorial Crosswalk! We will not stand by and be erased!!! Next week we will install new graphics across the front of our building putting our PRIDE on display. We are proud and will not fight quietly.”
The new graphics have been applied over the last few days. Here they are in all their glory.
In a posting on Tuesday, as it unveiled the final window, the bar said on Facebook, “We will make sure they regret taking our 
because we come back stronger!”
Queerty has contacted Cocktail St Pete for further comment.
On social media, many have liked and praised the revamp of the windows. This included many straight people.
“An instructive civics lesson”
The Cocktail St Pete’s new windows arrive one week after city officials painted over the city’s much-loved rainbow crosswalk, at the intersection of 25th Street and Central Avenue.
At a press conference in Orlando last Tuesday, DeSantis again defended removing street art, calling it “an instructive civics lesson.”
“You have a First Amendment right to paint your own property, knock yourself out if that’s what you want to do,” he said. “But when you have a state crosswalk or a state road, the law in the state of Florida is now that there’s not markings, or that’s not going to be used for those purposes.”
We’re sure DeSantis approves of Cocktail St Pete taking advantage of its First Amendment rights, right?
Delray Beach continues to hold out
Among Floridian cities, Delray Beach continues to fight state demands to paint over its rainbow crosswalk. It is delaying doing so while it explores legal actions to counter the order.
Delray Beach was given until yesterday (September 3) to remove its crosswalk. However, on Tuesday, a judge granted the city a temporary reprieve until Friday (9/5). The court gave Delray Beach officials and the FDoT extra until then to present evidence to bolster their respective positions.
Related
Florida gay bar responds to state’s removal of rainbow crosswalks in the best way possible
We look forward to Governor ‘Don’t Say Gay’ DeSantis’ reaction to this beautiful decor.
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