Maryland Mayor’s Decision To Strip Pride Crosswalks Sparks Community Outcry

December 2, 2025 Dan Tracer

The decision mirrors a growing national effort to eliminate LGBTQ+ symbols from public spaces.

Featured image by Mrs_2015 via Getty Images

Salisbury, Maryland’s only rainbow crosswalks disappeared at dawn on November 11, after Mayor Randy Taylor ordered road crews to mill away the Pride design that had been repainted annually since 2018. Taylor framed the removal as a matter of government neutrality. In his statement, he said the city must ensure “that government property remains neutral and does not promote any particular movement or cause,” later adding that “repainting the crosswalks with a neutral design will ensure compliance with both Federal guidelines and our commitment to maintaining neutrality in public spaces.”

For many LGBTQ+ residents on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the explanation rang hollow. The crosswalks had long served as a rare symbol of public affirmation in a conservative region.

Jonathan Franklin, who helped repaint the stripes last year, said the project felt grounding. “It was something we wanted to keep up and running as a symbol of the community,” he told the Washington Post. “As a young adult in my early 20s, I know it’s kind of stupid to say, but it really made the community feel safer. It communicated that LGBTQ people are part of the fabric of Salisbury and that our presence matters.” Their removal, he said, “reflects something that they’re trying to do on a larger scale, trying to remove LGBTQ visibility.”

The tension over the decision erupted at a city council meeting, where Taylor pushed back at criticism. “Stop it with all the criticisms. I’m on your team,” he said, striking the table. “I’ve been here my whole life and I’m sick of it. You guys piling up on me like you’re superior. I don’t get it. Like I’m this bigot and racist or whatever. I’m sick of it. I’m not that person.”

Council member Michele Gregory responded. “Mr. Mayor, if you don’t want to be called a bigot, don’t do bigoted things.”

Some argued the removal sends a harmful message, especially to young queer residents. “You don’t make things equal and fair by taking away from the underrepresented community, especially the youth,” said Lisa Taylor, board president of Shore Pride Alliance. Board member Nicole Hollywood added that the display was meant to foster belonging. “The intent has never been to make a political statement or to be divisive, but rather to serve as a potent celebration of diversity,” she said.

Some residents are even reconsidering their future in the city. “My ultimate reaction to knowing that it’s gone is that I’m very tempted to pack my business up and move it,” said salon owner Alfred Brewer. Others, like longtime resident Suzanna Mallow, plan to stay and continue pushing back. “I want to make stands for things in this community because I love this community and I love the people here,” she said. “And I can feel part of this.”