As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Women’s Center-Youth & Family Services is asking people to break the silence – and normal dress code – on Wednesday, April 27 and wear denim to work.

Community members, elected officials, and employees of local businesses and organizations are asked to make a social statement by wearing jeans and a Denim Day San Joaquin sticker on April 27, and donating $5 to benefit Women’s Center-YFS services for victims of sexual assault.

“By wearing jeans on April 27, people are taking a stand against sexual violence in our community. They are showing that they support survivors and they won’t tolerate violence and victim-blaming,” said Joelle, Gomez, Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Center-Youth & Family Services. “It’s a very powerful statement that helps change attitudes and lets victims know they are not alone.”

The Denim Day campaign was originally triggered by 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 her rapist 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. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against destructive attitudes about sexual assault.

Groups interested in participating can request Denim Day San Joaquin stickers and denim ribbons through Women’s Center-YFS. Denim Day participants are encouraged to take photos wearing their jeans and share them on Facebook and Twitter on April 27, using #DenimDaySJC. For information on Denim Day, and to sign up and request Denim Day supplies, call 209-941-2611 or visit www.womenscenteryfs.org.

Women’s Center-YFS is San Joaquin County’s only provider of free, confidential shelter and services specifically designed to meet the needs of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and homeless and runaway youth. Each year the agency serves more than 20,000 individuals through its direct services and community outreach, including more than 700 women, children and youth who stay in its shelters annually.

The mission of Women’s Center-Youth & Family Services is to build a stronger community by fostering the strengths in individuals and by acting as a catalyst to end violence and youth homelessness. For more information about Women’s Center-YFS and its programs and services, visit womenscenteryfs.org.