Denim Isn’t Always Denim
April 28th, 2021 will be the 22nd Denim Day. Each year, on Denim Day, millions of people across the world, wear denim as a way to show they believe sexual violence survivors. This tradition of solidarity was born from an Italian court case during which a judge ruled that because the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must’ve helped the alleged perpetrator remove them, thus the act was consensual. That situation WAS NOT consensual. Each year, Denim Day acknowledges that some survivors aren’t believed for the most trivial of reasons, including the clothes a victim was wearing.
As much as this one survivor wasn’t believed because of her jeans, many other survivors aren’t believed because of the identities they hold every day. Whether that be race, gender, sexuality, or ability. The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault recognizes that for some, denim isn’t always denim. That’s why, in the lead up to Colorado Denim Day 2021, we will be intentionally highlighting some of the survivors whose stories of sexual violence aren’t always heard or believed. This year, when you support Colorado Denim Day, you are declaring that you, that we, believe survivors of all kinds.