LGBTQ Now Have 'Safe Place' on Miami Beach

MIAMI BEACH — As part of its Gay Pride Week celebration, the city of Miami Beach took the wraps off its new "Safe Place" initiative on Thursday. The program is intended to protect Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who experience discrimination, harassment or worse while visiting this urban resort town. City officials started distributing special rainbow-colored "Safe Place" decals this week.

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Any member of the LGBTQ community who feels threatened can now seek immediate assistance at any business or organization displaying the decals.

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Tonya Daniels of the city told Patch on Thursday that five businesses had already received the new "Safe Place" decals. The city held an official launch ceremony at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The chamber was expected to affix its decal on the facility.

But "The first to inquire about the program and receive the sticker was the New World Symphony," Daniels told Patch.

City officials also held a ceremonial flag-raising ceremony to start the Gay Pride Week festivities on Monday.

Commissioners unanimously gave the go ahead to begin rolling out the "Safe Place" program in January.

“What the program entails is simply having businesses sign a one-page letter of understanding with the city of Miami Beach that they are going to act as a safe place for any member of the LGBTQ community who needs a safe place to go, whether it be protection from harassment, from bullying or from actual criminal behavior," explained Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco at the public meeting where the program was approved.

"It's a safe place where they can call 9-1-1. They can either be behind the counter or they can be in a back office or whatever the case may be," Grieco said at the time, adding that he was aware of some recent incidents involving bullying and harassment over the past year.

"It happened here in the city of Miami Beach," he said. "So, I don't want to see something happen. I want our folks to feel safe."

The “Safe Space” program is open to any business or organization in the city, but they must apply through the city.

To qualify, businesses and other organizations must agree to post a "Safe Space" decal outside the front entrance of their establishment, allow victims of LGBTQ-based harassment or crime to enter and remain at the establishment until police arrive; and call or assist LGBTQ victims in dialing 9-1-1.

Miami Beach officials cite findings by the FBI that show lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are the most likely targets of hate crimes in America.

“It's a fantastic thing for Miami beach," asserted Tony Lima, executive director of SAVE, which is dedicated to protecting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender against discrimination. "It's a fantastic thing to be able to set this example for the rest of Miami-Dade County and the state following Orlando after the Pulse massacre."

The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is located at 1130 Washington Avenue, First Floor, Miami Beach.

Decal image courtesy of Miami Beach