Delray Beach holds firm on keeping its LGBTQ Pride mural ahead of city meeting
By Wilkine Brutus
August 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM EDT
Updated on Aug. 20
Despite escalating threats of fines and funding cuts from the state, Delray Beach officials remain defiant against a mandate from the DeSantis administration to remove its rainbow LGBTQ Pride crosswalk mural.
The crosswalk mural, painted at NE First St. and Second Ave., sits at the heart of the city’s arts district.
A recent Florida law bans symbols deemed political or social-advocacy-forward. State transportation officials have also said the crosswalk is a dangerous distraction for motorists.
At Tuesday night's regular city commission meeting, Delray Beach voted to keep its pride mural for now ahead of an administrative hearing next week to decide if the Florida Department of Transportation can mandate its removal.
" Frankly, it's a declaration of war on our community. It's our property. These are our city streets. These aren't state roads," City Commissioner Rob Long told WLRN. "I can't think of a more egregious incursion on home rule than that."
Long said it could set a dangerous precedent.
"What comes next is? Is it our menorah lighting? Do they attack our historic districts? Do they attack our 100-foot Christmas tree? At a certain point, people get numb to it and they stop fighting and that’s when they really come after your rights."
Long says Delray Beach is following the lead of Key West officials who recently decided to legally challenge the state’s mandate to remove their Pride crosswalk.
The state has warned it will forcibly remove the mural if the city doesn’t comply by Sept. 3.
READ MORE: Delray Beach Pride mural will stay despite state pressure
This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.
Despite escalating threats of fines and funding cuts from the state, Delray Beach officials remain defiant against a mandate from the DeSantis administration to remove its rainbow LGBTQ Pride crosswalk mural.
The crosswalk mural, painted at NE First St. and Second Ave., sits at the heart of the city’s arts district.
A recent Florida law bans symbols deemed political or social-advocacy-forward. State transportation officials have also said the crosswalk is a dangerous distraction for motorists.
At Tuesday night's regular city commission meeting, Delray Beach voted to keep its pride mural for now ahead of an administrative hearing next week to decide if the Florida Department of Transportation can mandate its removal.
" Frankly, it's a declaration of war on our community. It's our property. These are our city streets. These aren't state roads," City Commissioner Rob Long told WLRN. "I can't think of a more egregious incursion on home rule than that."
Long said it could set a dangerous precedent.
"What comes next is? Is it our menorah lighting? Do they attack our historic districts? Do they attack our 100-foot Christmas tree? At a certain point, people get numb to it and they stop fighting and that’s when they really come after your rights."
Long says Delray Beach is following the lead of Key West officials who recently decided to legally challenge the state’s mandate to remove their Pride crosswalk.
The state has warned it will forcibly remove the mural if the city doesn’t comply by Sept. 3.
READ MORE: Delray Beach Pride mural will stay despite state pressure
This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.