The steps of the UM’s Cox Science Building received an unexpected decoration on Monday, Sept. 8. Bright, rainbow-colored chalk markings appeared overnight, sparking curiosity and conversation among students.
The Miami Hurricane reached out to multiple campus organizations including SpectrUM, Black Leaders for the Queer Community and The LGBTQ Student Center, inquiring about the artist or the meaning behind the work. Currently, no group or individual has publicly embraced ownership and the artist is still unknown.
Lorenzo Cavallino, a sophomore studying industrial engineering, offered his interpretation of the rainbow steps.
“I’ve seen the steps. It’s artistic, I think it’s pleasant to look at. I’m not sure what it’s supposed to mean exactly,” said Cavallino.“I feel like there’s some reason behind it, but we can’t know what the artist intended.”
In recent months, Florida has seen a wave of political legislation aimed at restricting LGBTQ+ rights, including bills that are designed to limit discussions of gender identity and sexuality in schools, as well as proposed policies that affect healthcare for transgender individuals. This comes alongside state-level decisions to erase LGBTQ+ visibility in public spaces, such as the removal of rainbow crosswalks in several Florida cities earlier this year: Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Pensacola and Key West.
Taveion Neisman, a senior at UM, suggested the art could be interpreted as a form of peaceful protest in light of these events.
“I believe it’s a beautiful testament to the fact that no matter what political legislation that is passed in government, LGBTQ+ individuals have and will continue to exist,” said Neisman. “The LGBTQ+ community has taken too many steps forward to just blatantly accept a step back in recent legislation. It’s a beacon for resilience and determination to create a world where people can love each other both openly and publicly.”
As of Thursday, Sept. 11, the drawing remains intact, continuing to attract students and the UM community to the Cox steps.
Balaj Raza contributed to the reporting of this article.