Founded in 1974 as Community Action Against Rape (CAAR), Signs of Hope (SOH) began as the combined effort of Florence McClure and Sandra Petta, two women living in Las Vegas who were outraged by the lack of resources and respect for those affected by sexual support and resources they need to move through the process of healing.
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A Legacy of Resilience: Denim Day 2024 - Signs of HOPE
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Signs of HOPE! For 50 years, Signs of HOPE has been working towards our mission to offer hope, help, and healing to those affected by sexual violence and exploitation.
As we reflect on our last 50 years as an organization, we are in awe of the strength and resilience of the victim-survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking which includes clients, first responders, and SOH’s dedicated team. This year, we honor this commitment to ending sexual violence in our community as we build the next 50 years of Signs of HOPE.
This year, our goal is to raise $500,000 so we can continue supporting victim-survivors of sexual violence with healing services, resources, and education. Thank you to our generous donors, volunteers, staff, and community for supporting our efforts!
The 50th Anniversary Gala will take place on Denim Day, April 24, 2024. Celebrated annually, Denim Day is a widely recognized event that raises awareness of sexual assault, supports survivors, and educates the community about all forms of sexual violence.
Denim Day began 24 years ago as a way to honor Sexual Violence Awareness Month. This campaign was originally in response to an Italian Supreme Court decision to overturn a rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans. The Italian Supreme Court dismissed charges against a 45-year old rape suspect because his 18-year-old victim was wearing jeans at the time of the attack. The Head Judge argued, “Because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them… and by removing the jeans… it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”
The next day, women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. The Denim Day campaign, originally created by Peace Over Violence, is a response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against harmful attitudes about sexual assault.
