LAKE COUNTY — County employees, doctor”s office staff and casino workers will break the dress code today and wear jeans in support of Denim Day in Lake County, bringing awareness of sexual assault.
Le Perales, program manager of the Rape Crisis Center, said the center along with the Lake Family Resource Center organized the event in Lake County, with posters and stickers to wear today that say “Why denim? Break the dress code. Break the silence.”
“Denim Day is just a show of support of victim survivors of sexual assault to get people to talk about it,” Perales said.
The Denim Day California campaign started in 1999 as part of an international protest against an Italian High Court decision to overturn a rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans, Perales said. The Italian Supreme Court dismissed charges against a 45-year-old rapist because his 18-year old victim was wearing jeans at the time of the attack. The Court stated in its decision that “It is common knowledge that tight jeans cannot even be partly removed without the effective help of the person wearing them … and it is impossible if the victim is struggling with all her might.”
The Lake Family Resource Center wants people to recognize it is neither the woman”s fault because of her jeans, nor one”s short skirt to encourage or allow sexual assault, Perales said.
She thinks many victims don”t reach out for help because of the way sexual assault is perceived in our society, Perales said.
“People can”t pretend like this doesn”t happen in our community,” Perales said.
Administrative assistant Lore Schneider will wear a denim jacket, shirt, pants and shoes to the county office today in support of Denim Day, she said. Other county employees said they would wear denim as well.
Schneider said it marks the only day in the County Administrative Office and some other departments where employees can wear jeans.
Twin Pine Casino, Konocti Vista Casino, Resort & Marina, Dr. Paula Dhanda”s office, Umpqua Bank and all but one business on Main Street in Kelseyville will participate in Denim Day, along with county employees and other businesses, Perales said.
She encourages people who don”t wear jeans to work today to wear the badge and explain to people what Denim Day means in order to raise awareness and debunk the myths surrounding sexual assault, Perales said.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors declared April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, today as Denim Day, Thursday as the day to talk about sexual assault and this week as Victim Rights Week in Lake County.
Services at the Rape Crisis Center are confidential and free. People can come to the center at 4325 Main St. in Kelseyville or call the Rape Crisis 24-hour number at 1-888-485-7733 or during business hours dial 279-0563 or 1-888-775-8336.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
