AUSTIN, Texas – In response to recent hate crimes a new patrol will hit the streets of Austin in an effort to protect the LGBTQ+ community.

Rainbow Patrol will protect Austin's LGBTQ+

Positive, inclusive, non-violent, non-confrontational

In response to recent hate crimes

"Every time we say isolated incident, it opens the door for this to happen again, and it happens again and again,” said Collin Acock, one of the founders of Rainbow Patrol Austin.

Rainbow Patrol is a grassroots group of volunteers that will patrol the downtown area from 11pm to 3am on Saturday nights.

"Totally non-violent, peaceful, there are many many programs like this, de-escalation, intervention, protection models, and we have old ones in our history, this is something we can do, we've done it before, it's time to do it again,” said Acock.

Rainbow Patrol's priority is helping LGBTQ people get home safely.

Just over one week ago a gay couple was attacked in downtown Austin on a Saturday. The couple was leaving the bar Rain and holding hands when they were beaten unconscious.

It was this incident that inspired Acock to take action, and the recent, high-profile attack on black, gay actor Jussie Smollett in Chicago reaffirmed his stance.

"You know people are living in fear about being themselves, and that's not how anybody should live, regardless, no one should have to live and feel marginalized at all,” said James Huddleson, a Rainbow Patrol volunteer.

Just over 5 days old, the group already has about 50 volunteers.

"We arm ourselves with hope and with positivity, we don't want anybody to feel that they ever are alone,” said Huddleson.

"I'm really kind of tired of being ashamed of being a gay American. So, I'm a gay American, a gay Texan,” said Acock, “And I’m not ashamed of that anymore.”

Most importantly, their message is that it’s ok to be yourself.