Advocacy groups across the nation participated in “Wear Orange Day” to commemorate National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Feb. 14. Locally, the Fayette County Victim Witness Division of the Prosecutor’s Office encouraged everyone to wear anything orange on that day and to tell people why they were wearing orange.

Victim Witness sold orange shirts that anyone could buy specifically for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. All proceeds from the shirt sale went to The Warehouse Youth Center and The Brick House Homeless Shelter. Students at Miami Trace Local Schools participated in the awareness event by wearing orange shirts at athletic events and dances.

The Domestic Violence Awareness Project reported that about 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner each year. Raising awareness about Teen Dating Violence means to speak up when you see or notice something happening and to start talking about what dating violence looks like among teens to help break the cycle.

Patterns of abuse or threats of abuse that are controlling in nature is just one description of what teen dating violence looks like. Abuse is emotional, verbal, sexual, physical or occurring digitally through online media and texting. Gaslighting is another, less talked about, form of dating violence among teens. A person who gaslights their victim attempts to isolate them by controlling how friends and family see them.

The Crisis Text Line offers 24/7 assistance for people who might think they might be experiencing abuse. Text Connect or Help to 741741 to get connected or visit crisistextline.org. The One Love Foundation phone app is another resource that offers support 24/7 for teens experiencing an abusive relationship. The app is free and can be used anonymously on smart phones.

Victim Witness sold orange shirts that anyone could buy specifically for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. All proceeds from the shirt sale went to The Warehouse Youth Center and The Brick House Homeless Shelter. Students at Miami Trace Local Schools participated in the awareness event by wearing orange shirts at athletic events and dances.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_TDV-orange-shirt.jpgVictim Witness sold orange shirts that anyone could buy specifically for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. All proceeds from the shirt sale went to The Warehouse Youth Center and The Brick House Homeless Shelter. Students at Miami Trace Local Schools participated in the awareness event by wearing orange shirts at athletic events and dances.

Barker’s Tires & 4X4 purchased the orange Teen Dating Violence Awareness shirts for the Miami Trace boys freshman, junior varsity, and varsity basketball players. They also purchased the shirts for the cheerleaders. Shown here are team members of the Miami Trace freshman boys basketball team.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_Freshman-Boys.jpegBarker’s Tires & 4X4 purchased the orange Teen Dating Violence Awareness shirts for the Miami Trace boys freshman, junior varsity, and varsity basketball players. They also purchased the shirts for the cheerleaders. Shown here are team members of the Miami Trace freshman boys basketball team.

Fayette County Assistant Prosecutor John Scott wore his orange suit jacket to work to show his support for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_TDV-John.jpegFayette County Assistant Prosecutor John Scott wore his orange suit jacket to work to show his support for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

The Fayette County Health Department wore orange shirts Feb. 14 in support of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_TDV-HD.jpegThe Fayette County Health Department wore orange shirts Feb. 14 in support of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

The junior varsity boys basketball teammates wearing orange before their game Friday, Feb. 17.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_JV-Boys.jpegThe junior varsity boys basketball teammates wearing orange before their game Friday, Feb. 17.

Junior varsity cheerleaders at Miami Trace wore orange shirts that said, “When push comes to shove it’s no longer love” to raise awareness for teen dating violence during the basketball game Friday, Feb. 17.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_Cheerleaders-JV.jpegJunior varsity cheerleaders at Miami Trace wore orange shirts that said, “When push comes to shove it’s no longer love” to raise awareness for teen dating violence during the basketball game Friday, Feb. 17.

Varsity cheerleaders at Miami Trace wore orange shirts that said, “When push comes to shove it’s no longer love” to raise awareness for teen dating violence during the basketball game Friday, Feb. 17.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_Cheerleaders-Varsity.jpegVarsity cheerleaders at Miami Trace wore orange shirts that said, “When push comes to shove it’s no longer love” to raise awareness for teen dating violence during the basketball game Friday, Feb. 17.

Miami Trace freshman boys warming up for the game in their orange t-shirts.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_freshman-warm-up.jpegMiami Trace freshman boys warming up for the game in their orange t-shirts.

All of the basketball players wore their orange t-shirts while warming up before their game.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_Boys-Basketball-warm-up-all.jpegAll of the basketball players wore their orange t-shirts while warming up before their game.

The crowd attending the basketball game at Miami Trace showed up wearing orange to raise awareness in support of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/02/web1_Crowd-in-orange.jpegThe crowd attending the basketball game at Miami Trace showed up wearing orange to raise awareness in support of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.