rights
Why is the right so obsessed with banning Pride flags?
By Alex Bollinger at LGBTQ Nation
· July 8, 2026
· 10 min read
"Bring back the ‘60s. I don’t give a s**t who you love, but don’t shove your ideology down my throat and tell me that I need to use pronouns." Rose Milner, Canadian far-right activist Last October, on a Sunday evening, workers from the Florida Department of Transportation bulldozed and sledgehammere
Key takeaway Ron DeSantis (R) told local governments to remove rainbow crosswalks, claiming that they are “associated with social, political, or ideological messages.
Why this matters
The targeting of Pride flags and rainbow crosswalks by conservative groups and governments reveals a deeper concern about visibility and recognition of LGBTQ+ identities. By removing or banning these symbols, conservatives aim to erase the presence of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities from public spaces. This effort is particularly notable in states like Florida and Texas, where local governments have been instructed to remove rainbow crosswalks, citing concerns about "social, political, or ideological messages." The fact that these directives have been issued by state governments suggests a coordinated effort to suppress LGBTQ+ visibility and limit the expression of LGBTQ+ identities. The National LGBTQ Task Force and other advocacy groups have long emphasized the importance of visibility and recognition in promoting equality and acceptance, making the removal of Pride flags and rainbow crosswalks a significant setback for LGBTQ+ rights.
About this story
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Category: rights ·
Published: July 8, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 10 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? "Bring back the ‘60s. I don’t give a s**t who you love, but don’t shove your ideology down my throat and tell me that I need to use pronouns." Rose Milner, Canadian far-right activist Last October, on a Sunday evening, workers from the Florida Department of Transportation bulldozed and sledgehammere
When was this published? This article was first published on July 8, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Alex Bollinger at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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