Back Off. Back Up. is more than a street safety initiative.
Developed by the team at Across Rainbows, the BOBU movement arose in response to people feeling unsafe or anxious while out and about and having nowhere to turn.
Hate crimes have doubled in the last five years. Nobody should feel threatened in public because of their gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or skin colour—and yet they often still do.
Sometimes, threats aren’t obvious. It’s not always about violence, or verbal abuse. It can be just a gut feeling; a sense of being stared at, followed, or just not being welcome.
Knowing that your community has your back is reassuring. We want to empower people to be able to ask for help or support when they feel something’s off, knowing that they’ll be taken seriously and be protected from harm.
Our interactive app shows users their nearest designated “safe spaces”, empowering them to ask for help should they need it.
These are local, inclusivity-trained venues who are committed to helping their community feel confident while out and about.
The emotional and physical safety of the LGBTQ+ community may be our priority, but this is a movement for everyone.
We all have a role to play in making safer streets a reality.