City of West Hollywood employees, members of the City Council, Public Safety Commissioners and personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s West Hollywood Station hosted an event and group photograph today at City Hall on “Denim Day” to raise awareness about rape and sexual assault.
Each April, the city recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. West Hollywood’s Denim Day participants wore denim jeans in solidarity with an international day of awareness. Communities around the world recognize Denim Day by wearing jeans as a way to raise awareness about rape and sexual assault. Denim Day was founded following a 1999 court ruling in Italy in which a rape conviction case was overturned with the argument that, because the victim had been wearing tight jeans at the time of the assault, she must have been expressing consent. The city’s Denim Day recognition is organized each year by the city’s Public Safety Department in the spirit of uniting against sexual assault; to break the silence about sexual violence and to stand up in support of survivors.
If you or someone you care about has been a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence or stalking, there are resources to help. Contact the Los Angeles County Rape and Battering hotline 24 hours day at (310) 392-8381.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center offers domestic violence/partner abuse counseling services geared toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities by contacting (323) 993-7649.
Amplify the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month message by using the hashtags #DenimDay and #OnlyYes.
The City of West Hollywood provides a variety of helpful tips on its website regarding safety and prevention. To find out more information, please visit www.weho.org/publicsafety.
Correction: The National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles chapter no longer provides counseling and support to individuals and families through the Women Helping Women Services program. The story has been updated to remove that reference.
