Keep the Colors, Protect Our Rainbow Sidewalks

Our rainbow sidewalks are more than paint — they’re symbols of love, inclusion, and community pride. As we wait and allow government officials to consider painting over them, I, and I hope you all are with me, stand by these important aspects of who we are beyond the painted sidewalks: You can’t erase love. You can’t paint over pride.

These sidewalks matter:
✔️ They strengthen community identity 
✔️ They attract inclusive tourism, boosting small businesses 
✔️ They stand as public art & cultural heritage 
✔️ They remind LGBTQ+ youth they are seen and valued.   
 
🌈 Why Rainbow Sidewalks Matter Tourism Impact:
In 2023, Florida welcomed over 137 million visitors. Cultural landmarks like rainbow sidewalks are major draws for inclusive tourism, especially during Pride events that bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to cities like Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami each year.

 🥰 Economic Benefit: 
LGBTQ+ tourists contribute an estimated $63.1 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Cities that showcase inclusivity through visible symbols (like rainbow crosswalks) attract repeat visitors and strengthen local small businesses.

 💪Community Support: 
According to a 2022 PRRI survey, 79% of Americans support laws that protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. Protecting rainbow sidewalks is in line with the values of the majority of Floridians and Americans.

 🎨 Public Art Value: 
The National Endowment for the Arts has found that community art projects, such as murals and sidewalk art, increase civic pride and local engagement. Once removed, cultural assets like these are rarely recreated.

 👀 Visibility Saves Lives:
Studies from The Trevor Project show that LGBTQ+ youth who feel seen and supported in their communities are 40% less likely to attempt suicide. Rainbow sidewalks are more than symbols—they are lifelines of visibility.

🤙We Call On Officials To:
 Protect rainbow sidewalks as permanent public art and cultural heritage.
 Recognize their role in tourism, community identity, and local business growth.
Stand with residents in affirming that love and equality cannot be erased.
 Our sidewalks are more than pavement. They are a canvas of pride, a landmark for inclusion, and a daily reminder that Florida is home to all of us—equally.

 Add your name to show you support keeping the rainbow sidewalks vibrant and visible. Sign Petition: Together, we can ensure the message remains clear: #KeepTheColors. Use these free marketing materials https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12j_SzarhY8fntD0KJV3xHrblyOvfAlvM

Petition Disclaimer (for Change.org page)
This petition is organized by John Palmer Payne as a private citizen and community advocate. It is not sponsored, endorsed, or funded by any political campaign, candidate, or government entity. Any opinions expressed are solely those of the organizer. This campaign is an act of civic advocacy, not electioneering.