Full Breakdown
Key West Cancels Rainbow Arch Project After Florida Enacts Anti-DEI Law
6/17/2026, 1:26:53 AM
Project Halted by State Law
The Key West Business Guild announced on social media that the city attorney confirmed Florida’s new Senate Bill 1134 “effectively ended the Rainbow Arch project before it could even begin.” The initiative, conceived to replace a rainbow crosswalk with a downtown arch bearing the slogan “All Are Welcome Here,” was cancelled before construction could start.
Legislative Background: Senate Bill 1134
Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in April 2026, Senate Bill 1134 prohibits local governments from using taxpayer dollars to fund or promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities. The bill defines DEI as any effort referencing race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation, with limited exceptions for federally recognized holidays or monuments. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, permits any resident to sue a municipality for alleged violations, and allows removal of elected officials who breach its provisions.
Key Actors and Their Positions
- Governor Ron DeSantis – Signed the anti-DEI legislation and later signed a law banning “nonstandard surface markings… that do not directly contribute to traffic safety.”
- Key West Business Guild – City’s business association that publicized the project’s cancellation and defended its community-support motives.
- City Attorney – Interpreted the bill as prohibiting the arch because its purpose was to celebrate LGBTQ+ diversity.
- Joe Saunders, Senior Political Director, Equality Florida – Described the law as “a sledgehammer aimed at cities and counties that dare to recognize and address the diversity of the people they serve.”
- Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary – Urged governors to remove political artwork from streets, emphasizing taxpayer expectations for safety-focused spending.
- Jared Perdue, Florida Transportation Secretary – Praised the law as keeping transportation facilities “free & clear of political ideologies.”
Data on Safety of Painted Intersections
The Bloomberg Philanthropies 2022 Asphalt Art Safety Study found that crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists drop 50 % at painted intersections. Additional findings include a 25 % reduction in driver-pedestrian conflicts, a 27 % increase in drivers yielding immediately to pedestrians, a 38 % decrease in pedestrians crossing without a walk signal, and a 37 % decline in injury severity at such sites.
Official Statements & Responses
The city attorney stated the arch violated state law because its purpose was to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ freedom. Governor DeSantis’ signed legislation bans “nonstandard surface markings… that do not directly contribute to traffic safety.” Secretary Duffy posted that “taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks.” Secretary Perdue affirmed that Florida’s actions “ensure we keep our transportation facilities free & clear of political ideologies.”
Criticism & Opposition
Equality Florida’s Joe Saunders labeled the law a “sledgehammer” against municipal recognition of diversity. The Business Guild emphasized that the project’s cancellation was not due to lack of community support or funding, but solely because of the new statute. Republican officials maintain that rainbow crosswalks distract drivers, a claim contradicted by the Bloomberg safety data.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
A clear discrepancy exists between GOP officials’ assertion that rainbow markings create driver distraction and the Bloomberg study indicating significant safety improvements at painted intersections. No state-conducted traffic-safety analysis is cited to resolve this conflict.
Verbatim Quotes
- “confirmed what many feared and sadly what we anticipated: Florida’s new Senate Bill 1134 effectively ended the Rainbow Arch project before it could even begin.” — Key West Business Guild
- “It was canceled because a new state law targets initiatives associated with diversity, equity, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ visibility.” — Key West Business Guild
- “For years, the Rainbow Crosswalk and the proposed Rainbow Arch Project represented something bigger than paint, steel, or public art,” — Key West Business Guild
- “Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks.” — Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary
- “Florida’s proactive efforts to ensure we keep our transportation facilities free & clear of political ideologies were cemented into law by @GovRonDeSantis,” — Jared Perdue, Florida Transportation Secretary
What’s Next
Senate Bill 1134 becomes enforceable on January 1, 2027, opening the door for resident lawsuits and potential removal of local officials who violate its provisions. The City of Key West may explore alternative public-art options that do not fall under the DEI definition, while advocacy groups continue to press for legislative revisions and monitor enforcement outcomes.
