• By Todd Luck
• Posted Thursday, April 20, 2023

Wear jeans on April 26 for sexual assault awareness

Everyone is encouraged to wear jeans on Wednesday, April 26, for Denim Day to support survivors of sexual assault and raise awareness of sexual violence.

Denim Day is part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which takes place in April. The day came about after the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans, with justices reasoning the victim must have helped her attacker take off her pants, which implied consent. The next day, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans in solidarity with the victim.

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to let their employees wear jeans on Denim Day or another day in April.

Locally, survivors of sexual assault can seek help from the Forsyth County Bridges to Hope Family Justice Center, which serves survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child maltreatment, elder abuse and human trafficking.

“Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to turn our attention to the many myths and stereotypes that still exist today, even in light of the #MeToo movement,” said Bridges to Hope Director DeWanna Hamlin. “Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on survivors. It’s important for friends, family members, and colleagues to know that with support, and help, these effects can be managed.”

Someone is sexually assaulted in the United States every 68 seconds. One in 6 women have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime, as have 3 percent of men. Each year, 60,000 children are victims of sexual abuse.

Bridges to Hope is located at 725 Highland Avenue in Winston-Salem. It’s open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and can be reached at (336) 776-3255.