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Salt Lake City designates April 2 as Start by Believing Day
Summary
The Salt Lake City Council and mayor adopted a joint ceremonial resolution recognizing April 2, 2025, and April each year as Start by Believing Day, a public-awareness campaign aimed at improving community responses to sexual and intimate-partner violence.
The Salt Lake City Council and mayor on a unanimous vote adopted a joint ceremonial resolution designating April 2, 2025, and the month of April each year as Start by Believing Day.
The resolution, read into the record by Council Member Petro, cites statewide data about sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence and endorses the Start by Believing public-awareness campaign, which the resolution describes as a program of End Violence Against Women International.
The measure recognizes research showing many survivors first disclose to friends or family and that supportive responses can affect survivors’ ability to access services and pursue justice. "Start by Believing Day represents a culture shift that Utah desperately needs," said Dr. Julie Valentine after the resolution was presented. Representatives from the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault also spoke at the dais in support of the designation.
Council Member Lopez Chavez moved to approve the resolution; Council Member Wharton seconded the motion. The chair called the question and the motion passed unanimously.
The resolution is ceremonial and encourages public-awareness and community responses; it does not specify new city programs or funding in the document presented at the meeting. City staff provided copies of the adopted resolution and photograph opportunities with council and the mayor following the vote.
