The city of Orlando launched the Safe Place program, fashioned after Seattle’s program, six months after Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured at least 68 others when he opened fire inside the Pulse nightclub, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
“To date we have about 200 local businesses and an additional 100+ government/public locations,” said Lt. Jim Young via email.
The mission of the Orlando Police Department’s Safe Place initiative is to provide the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning (LGBTQ) community with safety information and places they can turn to if they are the victims of crime or feel threatened, according to the city’s website.
When businesses apply for the decal, they indicate they will open their doors to potential victims, help them call 911 and provide shelter until police arrive.
While the program has not received any calls yet, according to Young, the LGBTQ liaison officer,
The Safe Place Initiative has a dual purpose; it is not only intended to provide safe places, but also to warn any would-be offenders not to commit acts of hate in Orlando.”
The Safe Place program has also spread to Louisville, Ky., Tucson, Ariz., and Morristown, N.J., according to the Morristown Green.
