Miami Beach defiantly rebuilds its rainbow crosswalk after Florida officials tore it up
The rebuilt rainbow streetscape was unveiled in its new home on Friday.
Mark
The removal of a much-loved rainbow crosswalk in Miami Beach last October left many saddened and angered.
The overnight demolition of the crossing at 12th Street and Ocean Drive took place after the Florida Department of Transportation—with the support of Governor Ron DeSantis—decreed that rainbow crosswalks and other street art were not allowed on roads in the state.
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Thankfully, authorities in Miami Beach have taken creative steps to rectify the situation.
“Celebrating the love”
Officials decided to save the destroyed street art and rebuild it in the nearby Lummus Park.
The rebuilt rainbow streetscape was officially unveiled on Friday, at the start of Miami Beach’s Pride weekend festivities. It features 3,606 colorful pavers, many of which derive from the original crossing.
Miami Beach unveiled their relocated rainbow crosswalk this morning.
It’s now in city-owned Lummus Park just feet from the original location (Ocean Drive & 12 St) where the state had it removed last year pic.twitter.com/hZ8kWhMp1I— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) April 10, 2026
“Ripping out a crosswalk that was emblematic of Miami Beach’s embrace of our LGBTQ+ residents and visitors, at what was literally the safest intersection of Ocean Drive, was a real slap in the face to our residents and visitors,” Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt said in a statement.
“It’s so important and gratifying to be able to rise above the manufactured culture wars to build something lasting, recognizing the struggle and celebrating the love that this new installation represents.”
Besides the streetscape, there’s also a commemorative plaque about the history of the art piece. You can also rest upon a bench painted by community members to honor the city’s LGBTQ legacy.
The importance of allies
Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez, the only out gay member of the Miami Beach City Commission, expressed gratitude to his colleagues.
“When the State forcibly removed this crosswalk, it was our straight allies on the Miami Beach City Commission who ensured our gay community would not be pushed into the shadows,” Fernandez told OutSF.
“Our allies understood that this crosswalk symbolizes a history of perseverance through the stigma of HIV/AIDS, the injustice of military exclusion, workplace and housing discrimination, and the long fight for the right to marry and to build a family.”
“I am deeply grateful to my straight colleagues for their leadership in upholding the uncompromising values of love, compassion, and equality. It is a powerful reminder that our allies will help us overcome this moment.”
What a beautiful morning in Lummus Park at 12 Street as our community came together to unveil the reconstructed LGBTQIA+ crosswalk turned rainbow streetscape along with a commemorative plaque and colorful bench.
Today’s ceremony honored not only the vibrant colors that symbolize… pic.twitter.com/NwT3mLxOyA— City of Miami Beach (@MiamiBeachNews) April 10, 2026
Another of those to attend the unveiling was Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
In a social media post on Friday, Cava said, “Today, we proudly restored Miami Beach’s beautiful rainbow crosswalk in Lummus Park. We showed our community, the state, and the world that Pride can’t be erased or taken away. In Miami-Dade, we will always come back more beautiful and prouder than ever. Happy Pride!”
Today, we proudly restored Miami Beach’s beautiful rainbow crosswalk in Lummus Park. We showed our community, the state, and the world that Pride can’t be erased or taken away. In Miami-Dade, we will always come back more beautiful and prouder than ever. Happy Pride! pic.twitter.com/4WZVTTloSY— Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) April 10, 2026
Out-gay State Senator Shevrin Jones also welcome the return of the crosswalk
They tried to erase it.
Yesterday, the bricks went back down, because it’s the people’s street. And the people showed up, gay, straight, allies, leaders, families. Because it’s the right thing to do.
You can try to erase symbols of love, but you will never erase the people. Joy… pic.twitter.com/MHcZJTkGV9— Shevrin “Shev” Jones (@ShevrinJones) April 11, 2026
Other cities create rainbow street art
Miami Beach is not the only city to fight the erasure of rainbow crosswalks. St Petersburg in Florida replaced its crosswalk with rainbow-painted bike racks.
In Orlando, Florida, Se7en Bites restaurant invited artists to decorate the 49 spaces in its car lot with rainbow-inspired art.
Cities in Texas have also removed rainbow crosswalks. In San Antonio, city officials recently responded by painting sidewalks with rainbows instead.
Related
San Antonio unveils amazing rainbow crosswalks in its Pride heritage district
San Antonio has a striking response to Texas’s recent ban on rainbow crosswalks.
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