Six months after the Pulse nightclub attack, the city of Orlando unveiled a new safe place initiative to keep members of the LGBTQ community safe.

  • Orlando unveils LGBTQ safe place initiative
  • The initiative began in 2015 in Seattle

The safe place initiative begins with a sticker, marking safe places that victims of LGBTQ crimes of threats can turn to in an immediate time of need.

"The hours of operation here, we're open until 4 a.m. on the weekends, so not all places are open and there's no set time in an hour of need, per se," said Edgardo Guzman, owner/operator of Tako Cheena along Mills Avenue.

City-owned buildings and area business owners are partnering with the Orlando Police Department to create inclusive and accepting environments.

"The absolute darkest day in the history of Orlando," Mayor Buddy Dyer said. "I've said many days, though, I couldn't be more proud of our community and how our community responded."

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the safe place initiative is an important part of the healing process.

"It's going to take a long time," Mina said. "Obviously, people will never get over this. But, seeing those decals on the businesses will signal people to our community and other business owners that we're not going to tolerate hate crimes and that many of our businesses will become a safe haven for people who are being threatened or harassed."

The safe place initiative was unveiled Monday at the LGBT Center of Central Florida on Mills Avenue.

Tako Cheena, located near The Center, is one of the first safe places in the city.

"I need them to understand what this is, something that we've already been doing but they need to see this and understand," Guzman said. "If they don't, they can come in and they can actually feel that energy of the acceptance."

The safe places will allow people to call 911 and feel comfortable while waiting for law enforcement officers to arrive. The nationwide initiative began in 2015 in Seattle.

Orlando Police will be the first agency in the southeast U.S. to adopt the initiative.