Denim Day recognized Wednesday at Nevada State Legislature; event features lawmakers, advocates and survivors
Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, Legislators, Victim-Survivors, Advocates and the Public
will host a rally and awareness day at the Nevada State Legislature between noon and 1 pm on Wednesday, April 26.
The rally is in recognition that victim-blaming and shaming are as pervasive and insidious today as they have ever been. This culture of holding victim-survivors of sexual violence just as culpable as their perpetrators is why rape remains one of the least reported violent crimes even though 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men are victimized in their lifetimes, the rates vary within the LGBTQIA+ community but research indicates rates are exponentially higher.
Denim Day began in 1999 when the Italian Supreme Court overruled a rape case after deciding the victim assisted the rapist in her own assault because her jeans were “so tight” she must have assisted him in removing them, therefore the sex was consensual. Outraged members of the parliament protested the decision by wearing jeans the following day and the act of solidarity inspired allies around the world to do the same.
WHERE 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, Legislative Plaza
RALLY TO STAND AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGENDA
Schedule
11:30 am – 12 pm Community networking and media interviews
12 pm Welcome note and introduction to significance of Denim Day:
Elizabeth (NCEDSV)
12:05 pm Highlighting strides made and where we have to go:
Serena (NCEDSV)
12:10 – 12:25 pm Legislator speak out:
Senator Lisa Krasner
Senator Melanie Scheible
Assemblywoman Selena Torres
Assemblywoman Cecelia González
12:25 pm Chief of Staff Teresa Benitez-Thompson on behalf of the Office of Attorney General Aaron Ford
12:.30 pm Close out and call to action
Serena (NCEDSV)
12:35– 1 pm Media, photos, and networking
SEXUAL VIOLENCE LEGISLATION IN THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
AB163
Assemblywoman Cecelia González
*NCEDSV Priority Bill
— Expands employee protections to victim-survivors of sexual violence.
— These protections include reasonable workplace accommodations for the victim-survivor, up to 160 hours of leave to attend appointments and services related to the violence they endured, and maintaining eligibility for unemployment benefits if the victim-survivor needs to quit to ensure their safety.
AB245
Assemblywoman Selena Torres
*NCEDSV Priority Bill
— Aims to create uniformity in k-12 schools’ response to students disclosing that they have experienced power-based violence
— Would require school districts enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with organizations that provide services to victim-survivor.
— Requires schools and to refer students to community-based agencies.
— Establishes the statewide number to direct victim-survivors to community-based agencies nearest them.
SB382
Senator Melanie Scheible
*NCEDSV Priority Bill
— Current law appoints automatic counsel to the adverse party during an extended protection order hearing if the adverse party is a minor. The current statute does not appoint counsel for the applicant, which has created an unequal balance of power during protection order hearings.
— SB382 will amend these procedures ensure that there is an equal balance of power for the applicant and adverse parties.
SB129
Senator Lisa Krasner
— Abolishes the previous statute of limitations of two years for victim-survivors of sexual assault to pursue civil lawsuit against perpetrators.
SB321
Senator Lisa Krasner
— Prohibits law enforcement and forensic labs from using any biological evidence obtained from a survivor to prosecute the survivor for any crime. Through this bill, victim-survivors will wrestle with one less worry when considering whether to cooperate with an investigation of their abuse.