More than 20 community organizations came together at Queens Borough Hall on Monday, April 23, to mark Denim Day—a global campaign that raises awareness of sexual violence and honors survivors through education, solidarity and support.
Queens Defenders, Safe Horizon, and the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence led the day-long event at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center in Kew Gardens. Attendees received access to vital resources related to personal safety, sexual health, LGBTQ+ support services and legal advocacy.
Since its inception in 1999, Denim Day has been observed every April during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign began in response to a controversial ruling by the Italian Supreme Court, which overturned a rape conviction by arguing that the victim’s tight jeans implied consent. Outraged by the verdict, women in the Italian Parliament wore denim to protest, sparking an international movement.
By wearing jeans on Denim Day, participants symbolically reject victim-blaming and reaffirm their support for survivors of sexual assault and gender-based violence.
Across Queens, local leaders and organizations held additional Denim Day events to engage the community and spread awareness about the importance of consent, accountability, and survivor-centered advocacy.
The event also included a panel of community experts and advocates discussing the importance of protecting and uplifting survivors. The panel, moderated by Queens Defenders DOVE Coordinator Deborah Stevenson, included Devin Deane from RISE, Tiffany Jade Munroe from the Caribbean Equality Project, Carla Alvarez from Day One, Shivana Jorawar of Ja’hajee Sister, and Aminta Kilawan-Narine of South Queens Women’s March.
The panel focused on this year’s theme of community safety, tackling the issue from diverse perspectives.
Many of the panelists shared what community safety means to them.
For Munroe, as a trans-woman and Guyanese immigrant, safety means support for the trans community. “My work is to ensure that the trans community is uplifted, seen, heard, and also to ensure that all these important bills that support us are continuing to stay in New York City. We say we are a safe haven, for a reason, and we need to ensure that folks know that trans folks are welcome here and are protected here,” she said.
Alvarez said safety means providing a community for the children and families she works with. “For young clients, being able to find a community where they can be heard, seen, and believed… having someone who can guide them through education and resources,” she said.
Other panelists discussed the barriers that their communities face in achieving a sense of safety.
For Kilawan-Narine, issues arise when a small organization such as hers, which works hard with limited resources, cannot access funding. “ How much more could we do if funders out there believed in us and didn’t look at us as the small budget that we are, but rather the work that we actually do on the ground?” she said.
Kilawan-Narine also touched on how the criminal justice system is a complex issue for survivors and perpetrators, as it does not provide enrichment services or break generational cycles. “Often times, abusers who face a judge are told to go to anger management or to batter intervention programs, and thatr is literally checking off a box, but are those programs actually serving our people, are they actually culturally responsive, are they actually uncovering the heart of the issue or talking about mental health?” she said.
Participants received a wide range of resources, took home free pairs of jeans, and joined in hands-on activities such as stamping a community denim quilt.
Alora Sherbert, manager of developmental communications with Queens Defenders, explained that the distribution of jeans to attendees provides symbolic support for body autonomy for all. “I think it says that we support them no matter what they want to wear or how they want to look because your body is your right, and your own authority over it is important,” she said.
Michael Polenberg, VP of Government Affairs for Safe Horizon, said the organization is proud to stand in solidarity with survivors during this year’s Denim Day programming. “Safe Horizon is proud to stand in solidarity with survivors this Denim Day to raise awareness about gender-based violence and demand justice for survivors. Safety is a human right, and along with our community partners and survivors, we will continue the fight for survivors to be believed and end the cycle of victim-blaming,” he said.
