Jansen Perry waves a flag alongside demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, held after state officials ordered the removal of the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk.
Alexia Fodere
for The Miami Herald
Hundreds of people denouncing Florida officials’ crackdown on rainbow sidewalks marched on South Beach — with rainbow flags and signs in hand as they protested Sunday morning.
The “Forever Proud March” was organized by Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez and the Greater Miami LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The event’s page on the Greater Miami LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s website says, “Let’s send a clear message: our streets and parks should reflect the vibrant, welcoming spirit of our community.”
The demonstration came after the Florida Department of Transportation has ordered local governments, including Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Key West, to remove pavement art “associated with social, political, or ideological messages” or risk losing state funding.
Last week, FDOT painted over the rainbow sidewalk located near the site of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub mass shooting in Orlando. The sidewalk was a memorial to the 49 people killed in the mass shooting at the gay nightclub.
Here’s what the scene at the South Beach protest looked like.
Patrick Gallineaux rallies with demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. The march was held after state officials ordered the removal of the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Alexia Fodere for The Miami Herald
From left, Salome Milan and Lilia Tome rally with other demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. The march followed state officials’ order to remove the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Alexia Fodere for The Miami Herald
Demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ march during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, held after state officials ordered the removal of the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Alexia Fodere for The Miami Herald
Miami Beach City Commissioner Alex Fernandez waves a flag alongside demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, held after state officials ordered the removal of the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Alexia Fodere for The Miami Herald
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami Beach City Commissioner Alex Fernandez wave flags alongside demonstrators carrying rainbow banners and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, held after state officials ordered the removal of the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Alexia Fodere for The Miami Herald
Eddie Mart rallies with demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. The march was held after state officials ordered the removal of the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Alexia Fodere for The Miami Herald
From left, Adriana May and Cynthia Ordaz rally with other demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. The march followed state officials’ order to remove the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Alexia Fodere for The Miami Herald
Demonstrators carrying rainbow flags and signs reading ‘Miami Beach Forever Proud’ and ‘Won’t Be Erased’ march during the Forever Proud March on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, held after state officials ordered the removal of the city’s LGBTQ Pride crosswalk. Alexia Fodere for The Miami Herald
Grethel covers courts and the criminal justice system for the Miami Herald. She graduated from the University of Florida (Go Gators!), speaks Spanish and Arabic and loves animals, traveling, basketball and good storytelling. Grethel also attends law school part time.
