Collective Action for Safe Spaces (CASS)

Founding and History

Collective Action for Safe Spaces was founded in Washington, D.C., by LGBT activists in 2009. The group is based in intersectional identity politics, including race, sexuality, and gender. It alleges that the American legal system is built on systemic racism, sexism, and discrimination against LGBT individuals. ²

From 2013 to 2015, CASS began a pilot version of its Safe Bar Collective initiative with Restaurant Opportunities Center United, before officially launching the program in 2016. Jessica Raven, who was the executive director of CASS when the program launched, said the pilot program was inspired by the high unemployment rates for transgender minorities. ³

In May 2019, CASS co-sponsored the Rethink Masculinity initiative to promote feminist views of “toxic masculinity.” ⁴

In September of that same year, Raven was replaced as executive director by Je’Kendria Trahan, who had previously worked for BYP100. ⁵

CASS handles donations through Action Network. ⁶ The group also receives funding from other left-of-center nonprofits, including Tides Foundation, MS Foundation for Women, and Greater Washington Community Foundation. ¹

Activism

CASS operates several initiatives in Washington, D.C., which focus on combatting perceived structural injustices against minorities, women, and LGBT individuals. One of these programs is the Transformative Justice Hub, a study group which researches experiences of sexual assault. The program explicitly excludes white women and includes transgender women. The study group then compiles online resources and trains activists to promote the interests of minority victims of sexual assault. ¹

CASS’ largest initiative, sponsored in conjunction with Restaurant Opportunities Center United, is the Safe Bar Collective initiative, which provides sensitivity training to bar staff and promotes diversity in hiring. While the program initially focused on sexual harassment and assault, it now includes training on responding to “hate-based incidents.” ³ The initiative consists of a two-hour training and costs $500. If 80 percent of a bar’s staff is trained, the bar receives a “Safe Bar” distinction and decal. ⁷ As of 2018, CASS claimed to have certified over 40 bars and extended the program to Tennessee, and expressed a goal of certifying another 30 D.C.-area bars in 2019. ⁸

Another CASS program is its Re-Think Masculinity initiative, which offers classes focused on criticizing traditional gender norms and blaming violence on masculinity. The courses frame gender norms as harmful social constructs which should be replaced. ⁹

Outside of its major initiatives, CASS offers free workshops and for-fee trainings to D.C.-area businesses. ¹ In 2018, the group also canvassed for the legalization of prostitution and marched in anti-police protests. ¹⁰ CASS supports the complete abolition of all police and prisons without exceptions. ²