Declare Denim Day Statewide

Assembly Resolution No. 349 BY: M. of A. Paulin LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 26, 2017, as Denim Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, Sexual violence is a horrific and widespread act of crime that is broadly defined as any unwanted sexual contact, including rapes, verbal and physical assault, and harassment; and WHEREAS, Victims of sexual violence are often blamed for having contributed or led to the perpetration of violence through their behavior or physical appearance; and WHEREAS, In 1999, the Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a man accused of rape on the grounds that the victim must have helped her rapist remove her tight-fitting jeans, thereby implying consent; and WHEREAS, This ruling infuriated the Italian public, leading women to wear denim to work the day after the conviction; and WHEREAS, In April of 1999, Patricia Giggans, the Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, established Denim Day in Los Angeles, California, in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Since 1999, the event has grown into a worldwide movement, occurring annually in 50 states and over 119 countries and including female, male and LGBTQ participants; and WHEREAS, Through the Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence's tireless efforts, Denim Day will take place on Wednesday, April 26,

2017, in towns and cities throughout Westchester County and New York State; and WHEREAS, Children and adolescents are at high-risk for being victims of sexual violence, with half of female rape victims reporting experiencing their first rape before 18, and over a quarter of male rape victims raped for the first time before the age of 10; and WHEREAS, Over 15,000 people with developmental disabilities are raped each year in the United States, and over 20,000 more estimated to have experienced sexual violence; and WHEREAS, It is estimated that over 50% of LGBTQ individuals have experienced at least one incidence of sexual violence; and WHEREAS, Awareness campaigns such as Denim Day have done much to empower victims and their loved ones, and to educate potential victims of the dangers of sexual violence; and WHEREAS, Though much progress has been made in the fight against sexual violence, the fact that almost 50% of women and 20% of men have been or will be victims of sexual violence highlights continued need for advocacy; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body strongly supports the efforts of the Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence to educate persons in our community about the true impact of rape and sexual assault in not only Westchester County, but the entire State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 26, 2017, as Denim Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, and the Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence.