HOUSTON – People are invited to wear jeans on Wednesday for Denim Day during Sexual Assault Awareness month.
Denim Day is a campaign started by the Peace Over Violence organization, which is a sexual violence and child abuse prevention center in Los Angeles, California.
“The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim,” Peace Over Violence wrote on its website.
Denim Day happens every year on a Wednesday in April. Community members, students, and elected officials are asked to participate by wearing jeans.
Organizers said this is a movement to raise awareness about the misconceptions of sexual violence.
For more information about Denim Day and how you can support the initiative, click here. You can post or follow the campaign on social by using #DenimDay.
Unreported Sex Assaults in Houston
The Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) cited Texas Department of Public Safety statistics in a news release indicating more than 3,000 sexual assaults were reported in Harris County in 2021. However, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that 2 out of 3 go unreported.
“HAWC’s 24-hour rape crisis hotline and sexual assault services are free and confidential. We are proud to accompany survivors on their healing journey from being with them at the hospital, to providing counseling and legal services, to financial assistance and even housing, if needed.” Emilee Whitehurst, President and CEO of HAWC, said in a news release. “The trauma from an assault can be overwhelming and long-term. Funding from the Houston community is essential in continuing to offer these services that are, unfortunately, in very high demand right now.”
This month, Reliant is matching donations made to HAWC up to $40,000 to support the organization’s efforts to improve the caliber of care for sexual assault survivors in Houston. The month will culminate on Giving Day on April 27.
“At Reliant, we’ve supported the Houston Area Women’s Center in their mission to fight sexual assault and domestic violence for years,” said Elizabeth Killinger, president of Reliant, an NRG company. “We hope all Houstonians will join us to help raise funds to support survivors and improve the care that they receive in our community.”
Wearing denim today?
Here’s how you can submit your Click2Pins.
1. Go to Click2Pins.com to share them. It’s easy -- log in or create an account. Go to the upload a pin button, find your photo on your phone and tell us about it. Choose your category under a channel, then click upload and you’re done!
2. Go to the Click2Houston app and click on the top left menu. In the dropdown tap Click2Pins. Log in or create an account. Go to the upload a pin button, find your photo on your phone and tell us about it. Choose a category and channel that fit best, then click upload pin.
3. Go to the KPRC 2+, click on the menu at the top left of the screen to find Click2Pins or scroll down to the Click2Pins box. Go to the upload a pin button, find your photo on your phone and tell us about it. Choose a category and channel that fit your pic best, then click upload pin.
4. Go to the KPRC 2 weather app and click on the camera icon at the bottom of the screen. Log in or create an account. Go to the upload a pin button, find your photo on your phone and tell us about it. Choose a category and channel that fit best, then click upload pin.