Who We Are

Safe Zone

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse in our community, call Arlington’s 24-hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline 703-237-0881 for information and support. You can also contact Virginia’s LGBTQ Partner Abuse and Sexual Assault Helpline: 866-356-6998  / Text: 804-793-9999  / Chat (confidential instant messaging).

What does our Safe Zone symbol mean?

Doorways is committed to creating an environment that provides culturally competent and inclusive services that are non-stigmatizing to all clients regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex, gender and gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, or disability, as well as to others from diverse backgrounds. This includes those who are LGBTQIA+:

  • We welcome and serve all clients who access services, including clients of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, including (but not limited to) those who identify as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, pansexual, and questioning, as well as gender-conforming, gender non-conforming, nonbinary, transgender, and transitioning individuals.
  • We respect your identity/ies, name and pronouns.
  • We welcome staff, board members, volunteers and clients irrespective of race, sexual orientation, sex, gender and gender identity (or expression), religion, national origin, age, or disability, as well as others from diverse backgrounds. Many of our staff are LGBTQIA+.

Why “LGBTQIA+”? We use LGBTQIA+ to intentionally include and raise awareness of those who are queer, intersex, and asexual as well as other identities and communities under this umbrella, such as pansexual, Two-Spirit, and many more.

How we’re making our space safer

  • All staff and volunteers complete 40+ hours of Doorways core training that includes curriculum focused on working with LGBTQIA+ survivors.
  • We have updated intake forms and other documents to be open-ended for gender identification and (preferred) pronouns.
  • New literature and brochures include the safe zone symbol to help improve access to our services for those who are LGBTQIA+.
  • We have incorporated more inclusive language in our assessments.
  • We seek ongoing feedback from our clients to continue to improve our programs and services.
  • We continue to engage in improving practices that are inclusive and welcoming of all victims. Staff attend ongoing trainings to learn and to help us continue to improve our response to those are LGBTQIA+.

Additional Local LGBTQIA+ Resources

Arlington County, in partnership with the Human Rights Commission’s Equality Task Force,  launched a webpage with local, state, and national resources for those who are LGBTQ+. Visit the page for further information.

“Arlington has long been a community that strives to embrace and equitably serve our diverse population that includes people from all walks of life – including those who identify as LGBTQ.”

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