People around the world wear denim on Denim Day, a campaign held in April each year for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, in solidarity and support of survivors of sexual assault. Denim Day 2023 is Wednesday, April 26, and UHD Title IX/Equal Opportunity Officer Lauri Ruiz wants our campus community to know that not only is it okay for staff and faculty to wear jeans on that day, it is encouraged!

“First and foremost, it is of paramount importance that UHD employees and students know that if they witness or receive any information regarding sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic abuse, or stalking committed by or against a UHD student or UHD employee,” stated Ruiz, “they should reach out to me at 713-221-5771 or titleix@uhd.edu. Employees are actually required to report incidents to me promptly.”

For Denim Day, Ruiz and University Relations have made flyers available for departments and divisions to post to show their support of survivors of sexual assault. “I’d love to see the entire campus community in denim on April 26! It is such a meaningful way to build awareness,” said Ruiz. 

What’s the significance of wearing denim? This campaign began after a 1992 ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that consent was implied since the victim was wearing tight jeans. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. 

Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, what started as a local campaign to bring awareness to victim blaming and destructive myths that surround sexual violence has grown into a movement. As the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history, Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses, and students to make a social and fashion statement by wearing jeans on this day.