In August 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the removal of roughly 400 “non-standard” pieces of street art, the majority of which were rainbow-colored, Pride-themed, or generally associated with the LGBTQ+ community.
“We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes,” DeSantis wrote on X.
In his order, DeSantis cited concerns over the road safety of pedestrians and drivers, despite evidence that brightly painted roadways actually reduce traffic accidents and increase pedestrian safety.
Overnight, rainbow-colored sidewalks, crosswalks, and murals were ripped up from streets across Florida — including the memorial for the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Two months later, in October 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott echoed DeSantis’ remarks when he ordered the removal of LGBTQ+ Pride crosswalks and other road markings that “advance political agendas” and “ideologies.”
In the months since, people have found creative ways to circumvent the bans in Florida and Texas.
Residents, business owners, and city officials have installed rainbow bike racks, moved rainbow crosswalks to sidewalks, painted fence posts, revamped private parking lots with LGBTQ+-friendly murals, and displayed rainbow laser beams in the night sky.
Most recently, El Paso responded to the ban by wrapping Pride-themed “cylinders” around city street lights in the heart of downtown.
“Celebrating Pride Month in El Paso!” The City of El Paso’s official Instagram account shared on June 3. “We’re excited to announce the installation of colorful Pride-themed decorative cylinders on streetlights around Pride Square.”
The cylinders bear the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag, the most current and comprehensive version of the LGBTQIA+ pride flag, which was designed by Valentino Vecchietti in 2021.
“These installations can be viewed downtown on Stanton Street, between Franklin and Missouri avenues,” the post continued. “Join us in creating a welcoming atmosphere for all residents and visitors during this vibrant month of activities and events!”
Amber Perez, the executive director of the Borderland Rainbow Center, told KTSM it was a chance for city officials to show support for El Paso’s LGBTQ+ community.
“One of the things that has been the most amazing about all of this work is the collaboration between the City, local queer organizations, and activists,” Perez said. “That’s how all of this has kind of come to fruition, trying to figure out other ways to continue to uplift the community while still staying legal.”
Perez said it’s not the first time that community activists have had to stand up and say, “Hey, we’re here.”
And it won’t be the last.
“I think last year’s Pride across the nation was a little bit more subdued. There was a lot of fear within the community,” Perez admitted. “There was just this feeling of like, nobody knows what’s really going to happen.”
“And I think this year we’re seeing a bounce back from that — saying, ‘You know what? Whatever happens, it doesn’t matter. We are here, we are queer, and we exist.’”
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Header images via the City of El Paso Instagram
