New York’s ‘Menstrual Equity’ Bill

Earlier this year, I told you that war had been waged against New York state and its Tampon tax. If you need a refresher, New York state has a tax on tampons and other feminine hygiene products because someone sometime in the history of this state considered feminine hygiene products to be "luxury items."

Not only is New York's Tampon tax on the way out (some say as soon as September), but New York City's department of education is taking steps to provide free feminine hygiene products in all its junior high and high schools.

Mayor Bill DeBlasio signed a law which mandates free distribution of feminine hygiene products at all schools, homeless shelters and correctional facilities. Until this happened, students had to ask school nurses for the products if they needed them during school hours.

According to Mayor DeBlasio, "Women deserve to live and work and learn with dignity and health and in comfort. That means acknowledging the basic fact that tampons and pads are not luxuries, they’re necessities."

As we know, many things start out in New York city and then slowly find their way upstate, so don't be surprised if schools in this area begin to follow suite.

[via Taking Note/New York Daily News]