Safe Space

A safe space is an environment, physical or social, where LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups can express themselves freely without fear of discrimination, harassment, or harm. The idea traces to the mid-1960s, when it described places where LGBTQ+ people could gather and be themselves, and it was soon taken up by the women's movement of the 1960s and 1970s as well. Safe spaces can be informal, like a trusted friend's home or an affirming classroom, or formal, like LGBTQ+ community centers, support groups, and designated campus areas. Schools often mark them with a symbol such as a rainbow or a Safe Zone sticker. The term has since spread into broader conversations about inclusion and belonging.