Today we’re featuring a guest post from Patti Giggans, the Executive Director of Joyful Heart’s Los Angeles partner organization Peace Over Violence. Patti was the pioneer behind Denim Day in LA & USA. Today, she gives us a history of the movement and this year’s call to action.

On Wednesday, April 27^th, over 2 million people will wear jeans on purpose--the 12^th annual Denim Day in LA & USA!

Denim Day in LA was sparked by the story of a young girl raped by her driving instructor in Italy.

In 1999, the Italian Supreme Court overturned a lower court conviction reasoning the victim’s tight jeans meant consent. Women of the Italian Parliament protested by wearing jeans and the women in the California State Senate wore jeans in solidarity with them. I saw that protest on television and decided we should all be wearing jeans to make a statement about sexual violence and Denim Day in LA was born!

It became a movement to support survivors and debunk myths and misconceptions surrounding sexual violence. It also has become an opportunity to tell the painful truth about the pervasive and insidious nature of sexual violence. There is not a segment of society that is not impacted. There are Denim Day USA events going on all over the country: cities are declaring this important day as an educational opportunity with Denim Day in Austin, Boston, New York City, (hot off the press: there is a Denim Day in Ghana this year!), of course in Los Angeles--the flagship Denim Day location--and on high school, university and corporate campuses across the nation.

Each year more and more folks get involved in educating themselves about a subject that is still very difficult to talk about...rape and all the forms of sexual violence. Every year Peace Over Violence highlights another aspect of this violence. Our goal is to make the invisible visible.

This year we are highlighting the seriousness surrounding male survivors: men who were sexually abused or who had unwanted sexual contact as boys. As difficult as it is for women and girls to come forward and disclose and seek help, it is often even more of a stigma for men and boys to seek help. This has got to change. We need to begin to create the paths for men and boys to seek the help and healing they deserve. This year we are also adding a new language button, Tagalog, to our other languages:  Spanish, Korean, Armenian and American Sign Language, all that display the message THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR RAPE!

Please visit our websites www.denimdayinla.org and www.denimdayusa.org, take a look at our award-winning NO EXCUSES educational campaign and register your participation! Wear jeans with a purpose on April 27^th and text "denim" to 85944 to make a $10 donation to keep this campaign alive and spreading. Educate yourself so you can be an informed and engaged ally. Join the millions who will stand up to support survivors and embrace education and prevention! Together we can make the world a safer and saner place. Remember, there is no excuse and never an invitation to rape! Peace Over Violence is a sexual assault, domestic violence, and youth violence prevention center – one of the first in the country - and is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year. Patti Giggans has served as the Executive Director since 1985 and is a recognized lear in the sexual and domestic violence movement.  

Support Joyful Heart and Peace Over Violence in Chase Community giving by clicking the button above!