The tug-of-war over the rainbow-colored crosswalk at the Pulse nightclub memorial is telling in all ways. To wage a purely symbolic culture war, the DeSantis-run Florida Department of Transportation spent untold thousands of taxpayer dollars on professional road crews to erase it, while the still-grieving citizens of Orlando used nothing but sidewalk chalk and pure loving conviction to continue honoring the 49 innocent lives lost in a historic instance of gun violence.

Hankering for a new coffee spot? Look no further than Ale Scarps’ trusty “Gay Coffee Review” series on TikTok. Keeping it real, informative and, most importantly, gay, each video provides a witty overview of local caffeine culture. tiktok.com/@sum.almond.milk

Pulse survivor and equality advocate Brandon Wolf made his way back to the City Beautiful this year, and we’re all the better for it. He stepped away from his post at Equality Florida years ago to make waves in D.C. with the Human Rights Campaign. Now, Wolf’s made his way back (in time for the 10-year remembrance of the tragedy) to the advocacy organization with an even further impassioned call to political activism and working for his community.

We think we can speak for Orlando at large when we say our hearts were not prepared for the shocking investigation into the Sloth World. A report by Inside Climate News published in April revealed deadly neglect and a lack of meaningful oversight by a state agency that was aware animals had died in the owners’ care. The Central Florida Zoo agreed to take in the surviving sloths from the never-opened attraction. And although some of the rescued sloths have since passed on — euthanized due to continued poor health — the veterinary and animal care team deserve to be recognized for the compassion they’ve demonstrated in taking on this recovery project. 3755 W. Seminole Blvd., Sanford, centralfloridazoo.org

The boos heard ’round the world started right here in Orlando, when UCF graduates kicked off a national movement of grads letting the artificial intelligence industrial complex know how they really feel. A shocked commencement speaker got an earful after she told graduates of UCF’s College of Arts and Humanities and Nicholson School of Communication and Media that the rise of generative AI was “the next industrial revolution.” Not the best choice for a speech delivered to a roomful of future journalists, artists and media professionals anxious about their job prospects amidst the AI bubble, mayhap? Go Knights.

Nowhere were these inhumane American times writ larger and more heartbreakingly local than in the story of Uncle Lou (born Cleon Williams). After landing in ICE custody in May, this owner of one of Orlando’s tiniest yet most foundational live music spots became a red alert, a headline and a rallying point in short, fire-catching order. Still, the cause was lost and Lou was deported back to Jamaica anyway. But he became the face that personalized the cruel zeitgeist to Orlando in ways that others couldn’t, igniting mainstream support for an underground hero.

More than just executives who lead the inspirational Orlando Girls Rock Camp, this triumvirate are deeply invested community advocates whose work remains personal, hands-on and street-level. Through the guts and guidance of Bucaro, Ortiz and Panzella, OGRC has hit critical mass with its biggest scene footprint ever and a rising wave of alumnae shaping the Orlando music landscape like never before. Moreover, this year’s summer camp was its most intergenerational yet, with a record number of former campers reporting back as volunteers to pay it forward and nurture the youngest. orlandogirlsrockcamp.com

First place: Central Florida Jobs With Justice, cfjwj.org

Second place: 50501 Orlando, instagram.com/orlando.50501

Third place: Zebra Youth, instagram.com/zebra_youth

First place: Pet Alliance, petallianceorlando.org

Second place: Pet Rescue by Judy, petrescuebyjudy.com

Third place: Liberation Cat House, liberationcathouse.com