Dating Safety Tips

Meeting new people is exciting, but you should always be cautious when interacting with someone you don’t know. Use your best judgment and put your safety first, whether you are exchanging initial messages or meeting in person. While you can’t control the actions of others, there are things you can do to help you stay safe during your BLK experience.

Online Safety

Meeting in Person

LGBTQ+ Travel

Sexual Health & Consent

Resources for Help, Support, or Advice

Remember — even if you follow these tips, no method of risk reduction is perfect. If you have a negative experience, please know that it is not your fault and help is available. Report any incidents here, and consider reaching out to one of the resources below. If you feel you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call 911 (U.S. or Canada) or your local law enforcement agency.

RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | online.rainn.org | www.rainn.org

Planned Parenthood

1-800-230-7526 | www.plannedparenthood.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 | www.thehotline.org

National Human Trafficking Hotline

1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 | www.humantraffickinghotline.org

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

1-877-739-3895 | www.nsvrc.org

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) | www.cybertipline.com

Cyber Civil Rights Initiative

1-844-878-2274 | www.cybercivilrights.org

VictimConnect - Crime Victim Resource Center

1-855-4VICTIM (855-484-2846) | www.victimconnect.org

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

www.ic3.gov

LGBT National Help Center

1-888-843-4564 | www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org

Trans Lifeline

1-877-565-8860 (US) or 1-877-330-6366 (CA) | www.translifeline.org

If you are outside the US: