ACLU wants tampons, menstrual products in men's loos for transgender and non-binary people
The American Civil Liberties Union is asking for men's restrooms to keep a stock of tampons and other menstrual products in order to fight sex discrimination for 'every person' who menstruates.
The ACLU released a statement on Tuesday where they argued for accessible menstrual products in men's bathrooms in order to accommodate transgender and non-binary people.The statement read, "While free menstrual products are not uniformly provided in women’s restrooms, they are almost never available in men’s restrooms, even for pay."
"Men’s restrooms are also less likely to have a place to dispose of these products conveniently, privately, and hygienically," the statement continued. ACLU also said that men's homeless shelters do not provide any menstrual products and it is very similar to men's prisons.
The organization criticized the notion that only women menstruate, get pregnant, and breastfeed, as inaccurate. The statement read, "Menstrual stigma and period poverty can hit trans and non-binary people particularly hard." In addition to this, ACLU shared that trans and non-binary people may need access to menstrual products for reasons beyond menstruation.
Such groups could very well need pads and liners after going through vaginoplasty. ACLU concluded, "Simply stated, because limited access to and the cost of menstrual products can hit trans and non-binary communities especially hard, as a matter of policy, a holistic agenda for menstrual equity and access must include trans people."
"We don't need to erase trans or non-binary people to show that barriers to menstrual equity, such as the tax on menstrual products, are unconstitutional sex discrimination," they continued. They went on to share that it is irrational and directly affects "cis and trans women, trans men, and non-binary people. It’s unfair, unconstitutional, and illegal."
The NGO also linked to a Menstrual Equality Toolkit that had been created to help those who were interested in advancing 'menstrual equity' in the US.
In November, ACLU had shared a tweet on International Men's Day where they said "there's no one way to be a man. Men who get their periods are men. Men who get pregnant and give birth are men. Trans and non-binary men belong."