Orlando rainbow crosswalk painted over by Florida DOT

Florida transportation crews painted over a rainbow crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando early Thursday, drawing sharp criticism from local officials, LGBTQ advocates and state Democrats while the governor and the Florida Department of Transportation defended the action as enforcement of a new statewide safety policy. The crosswalk had been painted as part of the memorial to the 49 people killed in the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse.

State transportation officials said the removal was part of a monthslong effort to bring pavement markings into compliance with an updated Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and a U.S. Department of Transportation safety initiative urging that intersections and crosswalks be kept free of nonstandard surface art. In a statement, FDOT said it must "ensure the safety and consistency of public roadways and transportation systems" and that this means roadways should not be "utilized for social, political, or ideological interests." The agency said it reviewed state‑maintained roadways, corrected pavement markings not in compliance and restored the crosswalk "to its proper form." FDOT also said plans are underway to construct a permanent...