City of Delray Beach
By Jenna Santiago | MediaLab@FAU
Sep 19, 2025
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Despite local efforts to preserve it, the Florida Department of Transportation on Sept. 9 painted over the rainbow crosswalk at Northeast 1st Street and Northeast 2nd Avenue, citing driver safety concerns.
The agency argued the colors were too distracting and posed a risk to motorists.
In the days after the removal, residents and visitors voiced disappointment but quickly began sharing replacement ideas.
Delray’s fight is not unique. In August, the FDOT painted over a rainbow crosswalk in Orlando that had served as a memorial outside the Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were killed in a 2016 mass shooting. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called the move “callous” and “a cruel political act,” according to The Associated Press. Other cities, including Key West, Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach, have also been ordered to remove rainbow intersections or risk losing state transportation funding because officials say the markings violate traffic control standards.
On Sept. 15, the Delray Beach City Commission held a public hearing to finalize its budget. Mayor Thomas F. Carney Jr., Vice Mayor Rob Long, Deputy Vice Mayor Angela Burns, City Manager Terrence Moore, Commissioner Tom Markert and Commissioner Juli Casale were present.
While the budget was the formal focus, the future of the Pride intersection dominated the discussion.
Mayor Carney said the issue had sparked more engagement than any other in his decade on the council.
“The entire country was kind of watching us here,” Commissioner Markert said. “And I feel like we let a lot of people down, frankly.”
The debate in Delray echoes broader disputes across Florida, where rainbows, Pride flags, and all LGBTQ+ symbols in public spaces have sparked debate over freedom of expression and public safety.
Citizens were invited to comment on the budget, but many spoke instead about the intersection, which has been a mainstay in the community since June 2021. Ronnie Daire, who had addressed the council the previous week, described the experience as “stressful, difficult and emotional.” She and Charlotte Dills proposed creating rainbow designs for a pyramid sculpture symbolizing “strength, stability, and a very strong connection between heaven and earth.” They said the design would reflect Delray Beach’s identity.
The council also reviewed replacement proposals already brainstormed: a commemorative plaque, rainbow light projections, and mural paintings at the Old School Square Garage.
Other suggestions included renaming streets or adding Pride flag banners to downtown light poles. Council members noted such measures would be cost-effective and quick to implement. Because the poles are managed by the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, further talks are needed.
No decision was reached, but city staff scheduled a Sept. 29 meeting with the DDA to discuss next steps. The council also invited the public to an Oct. 14 workshop to share additional ideas on how to replace and commemorate the Pride intersection.
For now, the black asphalt remains, but city leaders say the conversation sparked by its loss may lead to a more lasting symbol of Delray Beach’s commitment to inclusion.