This story shows how Orlando chef Trina Gregory created a powerful community response when Florida banned Pride crosswalks in 2025. She transformed her restaurant parking lot into a rainbow art space where community members painted 49 parking spaces to honor Pulse nightclub victims and celebrate LGBTQ+ pride on private property. This matters to Houston residents because it demonstrates how our community can use creative solutions when public spaces face restrictions. Houston has a strong LGBTQ+ community and history of inclusive public art, from our Pride Festival to rainbow crosswalks in Montrose. When public expression faces challenges, private property owners can create welcoming spaces that bring people together. This story impacts all Houstonians by showing how small business owners can support community values through their property. Local restaurants, shops, and community centers can become gathering spaces that celebrate our diversity. Getting involved means supporting businesses that welcome everyone and considering how your own property or workplace could become more inclusive. Contact local LGBTQ+ organizations like Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus or Pride Houston to learn about community art projects. Attend neighborhood association meetings to discuss inclusive public art in your area. Our community grows stronger when we find creative ways to express our values and support each other.
In August 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the removal of about 400 rainbow crosswalks and Pride murals across our state. The crosswalks had all been approved when they were first painted, but new rules forced cities to remove them or lose state funding.
The policy hit close to home when officials painted over a rainbow crosswalk outside Orlando's Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were killed in 2016. Our community members quickly repainted the tribute themselves. Many cities tried to keep their colorful crosswalks, but most gave in under pressure from the state.
Trina Gregory, owner of Se7enbites restaurant in Orlando, found a creative way to fight back. She called for an event named "Parking Spaces for Pride: A Rainbow Connection" on her restaurant's private property. Over 1,000 people showed interest in the event, which included music, food trucks, and donations for locals in need.
Our community painted exactly 49 parking spaces with rainbow murals - one for each life lost at Pulse. Artist Kelso created one mural with a rainbow stripe for each victim. Gregory said the project was about more than remembrance. "I was thinking about joy, about bringing joy back," she told the Orlando Sentinel.
Because the artwork sits on private property, it cannot be removed under state transportation rules. Gregory plans to make this an annual event, cycling in new murals each year. Her efforts earned her a nomination for the Orlando Sentinel's Central Floridian of the Year award.
