About Us
We believe centering and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities is necessary to enact real change and build a world that’s safer, more inclusive, and filled with joy.
Our purpose
The LGBTQI+ community fights for space in this world. Space to live safely and authentically. To love freely. But for all the progress we’ve made, we’re moving backwards. Today, we see radical legislation, homophobia, and an emboldened culture of bias in countries around the world. For queer persons, the simple act of living puts them at risk, and often causes them to flee their homelands in search of safety.
From standing up community centers in cities to reaching remote areas through technology, from welcoming someone who was recently displaced to supporting them as their goals change. At every step, we work together with kindness and generosity to ensure everyone in our community feels connected, seen, and understood.
SafePlace International cultivates ecosystems of safety, healing, and collective growth with and for an intersectional community of LGBTQI+ displaced persons to affirm the leaders that only they can be.
Our Mission
Our approach
At SafePlace International, we are guided by a multidimensional approach focused on making a positive impact for the people within our global community.
Reach
people where they are
Whether in-person or online, in rural or urban places, from moments of crisis to new routines of stability, we meet people where they are, showing up with empathy and adaptability. So community members can join our community
Our vibrant, inclusive community provides support members need, when and how they need it, so they can feel connected, seen, and understood. At every step, we work together with kindness, generosity, and accountability.
Protect
our community with safe spaces and networks of support
We build deep, trust-based partnerships with other organizations and make strategic, community-based investments to mitigate harm and connect people with resources like safe housing, food and supplies, and critical information. So community members can find safety and security.
With access to basic necessities and emotional and psychological support, our community members can feel secure to take the next positive steps.
Connect
our members to life-changing leadership training and educational resources
We as a community lead The Dream Academy, an intensive training program that connects participants to purpose, power, and the new possibilities they need to heal from individual and collective traumas. So community members can transform shame and trauma into power and determination.
Graduates discover their pain and grief foster a depth of passion, empathy, resilience, and creativity that, combined with practical leadership and administrative skills, build lives with unlimited potential.
Invest
in our graduates’ success
Our bond isn’t just for 10 weeks, it’s for a lifetime. We forge new paths to progress by helping members pursue career opportunities that pave the way for personal and professional growth—and pay it forward for the next generation. So community members can create a more equitable world.
Every leader in our community is an agent of transformative change. They shape culture and policy and create new, more equitable systems in their communities, institutions, and the world around them.
Our origins
Hear from SafePlace’s founder, Justin Hilton, and learn more about the SafePlace International’s origins, story and worldwide impact.
meet the team
Meet the dedicated team and board members leading our efforts to support and empower the LGBTQ community. Together, they bring diverse expertise and a shared commitment to creating lasting change.
in the news
Stay updated with the latest stories, achievements, and media coverage of our work advancing LGBTQ rights and inclusion.
our partners
The work we do wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and support of our partners who are allies to our cause. Together, we’re able to build our programs promoting safety and opportunity across the world.
