City Expands Nightlife Safety Outreach and Renews Focus on Supporting Survivors
In a show of solidarity with survivors of sexual assault, the City of West Hollywood will participate in Denim Day on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, joining cities worldwide in raising awareness about rape, consent, and the impact of victim-blaming.
The annual observance originated from a 1999 court case in Italy in which a rape conviction was overturned on the basis that the victim’s jeans were too tight, implying she must have consented. The ruling sparked public outrage and led to the creation of Denim Day by the nonprofit Peace Over Violence, which launched the campaign as a symbolic protest against sexual violence and misconceptions about consent.
To mark the day, city officials are encouraging residents to wear denim as a public statement of support for survivors. West Hollywood staff and public safety officers from the Sheriff’s Station will also participate by donning denim and gathering for a commemorative photo. The event is organized annually by the Community Safety Department as part of the city’s broader commitment to education and advocacy.
Denim Day coincides with National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, during which the city continues to spotlight its Only Yes Means Yes campaign. Initially launched in 2016 and expanded in 2021, the initiative promotes consent education and nightlife safety through signage, outreach, and social media messaging. Community members are encouraged to share support using hashtags #DenimDay, #OnlyYes, and #Consent.
As part of this year’s outreach, the city partnered with the Safer WeHo Coalition for a pop-up event on April 25 in the Rainbow District. The event offered free resources, including drink-spiking detection strips, fentanyl test kits, condoms, and harm-reduction materials, all while reinforcing messages about consent and personal safety in nightlife spaces.
In recent years, West Hollywood has expanded its nightlife safety measures, becoming the first city in California to mandate Bystander Intervention Training for alcohol-serving establishments. That ordinance, passed in 2021, led to a training program developed in collaboration with the Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Santa Monica, focused on recognizing and preventing drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Additionally, the city has partnered with the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s WeHo Life program to distribute drink-spiking test strips across local bars and clubs. In 2024 alone, more than 36,000 test strips were delivered to 39 businesses and organizations, further supporting the city’s harm-reduction efforts.
National statistics underscore the urgency of these efforts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Nearly 1 in 5 women in the U.S. will experience rape or attempted rape.
- About 44% of women and 25% of men will experience some form of sexual violence.
- LGBTQ+ communities face even higher risks, with nearly half of bisexual men and women and 47% of transgender people reporting sexual violence.
- Individuals with disabilities are also at significantly increased risk of assault.
Residents in need of assistance are urged to contact support organizations offering confidential and non-judgmental services:
- Peace Over Violence: (213) 626-3393 or (310) 392-8381 | peaceoverviolence.org
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-4673 | rainn.org
- L.A. LGBT Center STOP Violence Program: (323) 860-5806 | stopviolence@lalgbtcenter.org
- Jewish Family Service Family Violence Program: (818) 505-0900 or (323) 681-2626
- Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Santa Monica: (424) 259-7208 | uclahealth.org
For local public safety concerns, the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station is available 24/7 at (310) 855-8850. Dial 911 in emergencies.
For more information on city-led prevention programs and personal safety tips, visit weho.org/publicsafety.
