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Jailene Espinosa of the Adanse dance studio on Broadway in downtown Kissimmee shows off its Safe Space sticker with KPD Chief Jeff O'Dell.
It's not a stretch in life for people -- especially children -- to want and expect a place to be safe.
The Kissimmee Police Department announced Thursday it has implemented a Safe Space program for members of the LGBTQ community.
The program will be marked with stickers at locations in the city limits that are accessible to LGBTQ members as a "safe zone" if they have been victims of a crime, or just feel unsafe or in some sort of danger.
KPD will partner with trainers from The Center, an advocacy center for the LGBTQ community, to provide training for locations choosing to participate. KPD is providing those businesses, facilities, and other places decals to post as a visible symbol of safety for LGBTQ community members.
Per KPD, In addition to a police response, the LGBTQ Liaison Coordinator will be notified if additional services are needed. The Coordinator will keep a record of all businesses that enroll in the program and any time an LGBTQ member utilizes a Safe Space.
The Adanse dance studio on Broadway, one of a handful of downtown businesses owned and operated by the Espinosa family, got one of the first stickers.
"All of our businesses got the stickers," said co-owner Jackie Espinosa. "We thought the dance studio was the absolute best for the push. We offer a safe space to all of our kids there."
