The City of West Hollywood joins communities around the world to recognize Denim Day on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Denim Day is an internationally recognized day to raise awareness about rape and sexual assault, founded by the nonprofit organization Peace Over Violence following a 1999 court ruling in Italy in which a rape conviction case was overturned with the argument that, because the victim had been wearing tight jeans at the time of the assault, she must have been expressing consent.

The City encourages community members to wear denim on Denim Day. Each year, City staff members and public safety partners from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station recognize Denim Day by wearing denim and participating in a group photo to raise awareness. Denim Day recognition is organized each year by the City’s Community Safety Department in the spirit of uniting against sexual assault, to break the silence about sexual violence, and to stand up in support of survivors. Community members who participate in the recognition day can amplify the Denim Day message by using the hashtag #DenimDay.

The City recognizes National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in April and the City is continuing its work to raise awareness about sexual assault and consent with its Only Yes Means Yes campaign. First launched in 2016, the Only Yes Means Yes campaign was expanded in 2021 with additional focused outreach, graphics, and messaging in and around nightlife establishments. Support these efforts in social media with the hashtags #OnlyYes and #Consent.

As part of recognizing National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, the City joined with the Safer WeHo Coalition on Friday, April 25, 2025 for a Pop-Up in the City’s Rainbow District to encourage people to be more aware of sexual assault, to promote a message of consent with its Only Yes Means Yes public awareness campaign, and to distribute drink-spiking test strips that are designed to detect the possible presence of “date rape” drugs, such as GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) or ketamine. Participants also distributed awareness and prevention materials to the public, such as nightlife safety kits containing drink-spiking test strips, fentanyl detection strips, condoms, safety tip cards, as well as substance abuse prevention, and harm-reduction resources.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five women in America experiences a rape or attempted rape, and nearly 44% of women and 25% of men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. Within the LGBTQ community, approximately one in eight lesbian women (13%) and nearly half of bisexual women (46%), have been raped in their lifetime; four in 10 gay men (40%), and nearly half of bisexual men (47%) have experienced sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime. In addition, having multiple disabilities can increase a person’s risk of rape and sexual assault. Women with disabilities are twice as likely to suffer assault and rape, and children with mental health or intellectual disabilities are almost five times more likely to experience sexual abuse. According to a 2015 U.S. Trans Survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, approximately 47% of transgender people are sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

The City of West Hollywood has a range of ongoing efforts in place to assist in creating and maintaining a safe environment in nightlife business establishments that serve alcohol. The City of West Hollywood became the first city in California to pass an Ordinance, in late 2021, to require Bystander Intervention Training for personnel in business establishments that serve alcohol for onsite consumption. The training program began in March 2022; training is provided by the Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center and provides an educational course that addresses the issue of drug-facilitated sexual assaults and date rape drugs. The training also promotes the proactive role that onsite alcoholic beverage sales establishments can take in the prevention of sexual assaults.

For additional information about the City of West Hollywood’s Bystander Intervention training program for establishments that serve alcohol for onsite consumption, please contact Danny Rivas, the City of West Hollywood’s Director of Community Safety at (323) 848-6424 or at drivas@weho.org. 

The City in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s WeHo Life program, distributes drink-spiking test strips to West Hollywood nightlife establishments. Outreach staff from the WeHo Life program began test-strip distribution efforts in October 2022 to inform and educate community members and businesses that drink-spiking test strips are a tool for personal safety that can be used anywhere at any time.  In 2024 approximately 36,000 drink-spiking test strips were distributed to 39 participating local businesses and organizations in the City of West Hollywood.

The City and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station urge anyone who believes they are a victim of any crime – or anyone in the community with any public safety concerns – to reach out to the Sheriff’s Station 24/7 at (310) 855-8850. In an emergency, always call 911.

The City of West Hollywood’s Public Safety website area provides personal safety tips for nightlife safety and sexual assault prevention and resources; please visit: https://www.weho.org/city-government/city-departments/community-safety/public-safety/crime-prevention-and-personal-safety-tips/sexual-assault-prevention-night-club-safety.

If you or someone you care about has been a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence or intimate partner stalking, there are resources to help.

The Los Angeles County Rape and Battering Hotline, Peace Over Violence, a confidential non-judgmental resource where emotional support, advocacy, information, and referrals are available, can be reached 24-hours-a-day by contacting (213) 626-3393 or (310) 392-8381 or at www.peaceoverviolence.org.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s STOP Violence Program (SVP) works to increase access to mental health and supportive services for LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and intimate partner abuse. Call (323) 860-5806 or email STOPviolence@lalgbtcenter.org.

The Jewish Family Service’s Family Violence Program provides confidential 24-hour crisis lines for victims of abuse at (818) 505-0900 or (323) 681-2626.

The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), organizes the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline, a referral service that can put you in contact with your local rape crisis center. The hotline can be reached 24 hours a day at (800) 656-4673, or access RAINN’s chat feature for help at www.rainn.org.

The Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center provides free comprehensive treatment for sexual assault victims and their families, including 24-hour emergency medical care, forensic examinations and crisis counseling. The RTC can be reached 24 hours a day at (424) 259-7208 or at uclahealth.org/medical-services/rtc.

The City of West Hollywood provides a variety of helpful tips on its website regarding safety and prevention. To find out more, please visit www.weho.org/publicsafety.

For more information about Denim Day, please call the City’s Community Safety Division at (323) 848-6414. To find out more information about the City’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month Outreach Event, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Community Programs Coordinator Larissa Fooks at (323) 848-6413 or lfooks@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. West Hollywood City Hall is open for walk-in services at public counters or by appointment by visiting www.weho.org/appointments. City Hall services are accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via website at www.weho.org. Receive text updates by texting “WeHo” to (323) 848-5000.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.