ORLANDO, Fla. – More than 200 business establishments and organizations have joined the Orlando Police Department’s Safe Place project.

The project was launched three months ago and it advocates safe spaces for everyone, especially the LGBTQ community.

The Police Department encourages business owners to complete an online application form. Police then provide the owners with free colorful stickers, which are posted on the businesses’ doors and bulletin boards to publicly convey the welcoming message.

Police Officer James Young of the Orlando Department said that these 200 plus businesses gave a commitment that their locations are to be safe grounds for victims of crimes and maltreatment.

Pom Moongauklang, owner of Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria, signed up for the Safe Place project. She stated that she appreciated the goal of the project to make everyone feel and be secured amidst all the news happening all around.

She said that the project trained her and her team to always be mindful and alert when they are faced with a bad crisis. She is aware that as an owner, her responsibility includes her employees and her clients. Moongauklang proudly displays the LGBTQ welcome sticker outside the branches of her store.

Another businessman, Kirt Earhart who is the owner of Maxine’s on Shine and a supporter of the project, states the importance of people – regardless of gender, race, and beliefs – being comfortably safe in a place.

His restaurant welcomes everyone and ensures that they are free to be who they are. He said that his appreciation of the diversity of people should be exhibited by everyone.

The project is modelled after Seattle’s May 2015 project with the same advocacy. Officer Jim Ritter from the Police Department of Seattle expressed his admiration for the 4,000 plus business establishments that have partnered with them to spread the advocacy. He also indicated that many Police LGBTQ liaisons from other states have approached him to discuss the core of the project.

The Safe Place project also aims to disseminate information regarding hate and discriminatory crimes and how to completely abolish them.