BILL NO. 130
(as introduced)
3rd Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
70 Elizabeth II, 2021
Private Member's Bill
Denim Day Act
Karla MacFarlane
Pictou West
First Reading: April 16, 2021
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act to Establish Denim Day
AND WHEREAS people of all genders and ages can suffer multiple types of sexual violence, including acquaintance rape, stranger rape, sexual assault by an intimate partner, gang rape, incest, serial rape, ritual abuse, sexual harassment, child molestation, prostitution, sexualized human trafficking, pornography and stalking;
AND WHEREAS in addition to the immediate physical and emotional costs, sexual assault survivors too frequently suffer from severe and long-lasting consequences, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, major depression, homelessness, eating disorders, low self-esteem and suicide;
AND WHEREAS it is the responsibility of Nova Scotians to support sexual assault survivors by treating them with dignity, compassion and respect;
AND WHEREAS it is important to recognize the strength, courage and challenges of the victims and survivors of sexual assault and their families and friends as they cope with the reality of sexual assault;
AND WHEREAS it is important to recognize the compassion and dedication of the individuals who support sexual assault survivors, foster healing and increase public understanding of this significant problem;
AND WHEREAS in 1998 the Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a man who sexually assaulted a young woman after the Court determined that because the victim wore tight jeans, she had to have helped him remove them and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex;
AND WHEREAS upset by the decision, the women in the Italian Parliament protested by wearing jeans to work;
AND WHERAS jurisdictions around the world have followed the lead of the Italian Parliament by designating their own Denim Day to raise public awareness about rape and sexual assault;
AND WHEREAS on the third Friday in April Nova Scotians are encouraged to wear jeans to help communicate the message that there is no excuse for and never an invitation to commit sexual assault;
THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Denim Day Act.
2 Throughout the Province, in each and every year, the third Friday in April shall be kept and observed under the name Denim Day.
3 Notwithstanding any rule or practice of the House of Assembly, members of the Assembly shall be allowed to wear jeans in the legislative chamber on Denim Day if the Assembly is then sitting.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2021 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created April 15, 2021. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
