Policy Pack II.IX

MENSTRUAL EQUITY October 2019

PLATFORMWOMEN.ORG @PLATFORMWOMEN MENSTRUAL EQUITY Table of Contents

Letter from Platform 1

Lingo- Definitions of key acronyms, phrases, and words 2

The Rundown- A breakdown of the issue at hand 3

Numbers You Need to Know- Pressing statistics 6

All that Governs 8

Who’s Saying What?- Excerpts from the national conversation 10

Recent Legislation 12

What States Are Doing 13

Stories- A peak into the lives of people impacted 14

Think On It- Guide to continue your own research and understanding 15

On the Table- Discussion questions to aid your dialogue 16

Do Something- Steps to turn the conversations into action 17

MENSTRUAL EQUITY Letter from Platform

Dear Platform Community,

I remember wanting to shrink inside myself the day I got home from school and saw the red spots down my jeans. I remember stocking shelves at the market and the boys refusing to stock the (read: refused to touch a cardboard box full of wrapped pieces of tissue) so I threw the boxes at them instead. I remember starting birth control and the relief of not having to wear two pads and a at once. I remember interning in an all-woman office and the freedom of not having to whisper, "anyone have a tampon?" and that changing when it was no longer 'just us girls.' I remember finally not giving a damn and leaving my tampons at the top of my bag in my office only to be told, "put that away, that's dirty." I remember co-hosting a Period Party, a night of talking openly about menstruation and still guests saying, "I'm here for Period Party," in hushed tones until they were safely inside.

What amazes me most about these mundane moments, is how acutely I remember them. I don't remember the times I got a cold. I don't remember the days my height or shoe-size grew. I don't remember most of the changes that happened to my body (though I remember being told it was time for a bra and that was...fun) or the ways my body reacted to those changes. Yet every instance of this natural, bodily occurrence is seared in my mind and every instance is wrapped in a cloak of shame or daringness, never just being. And I was lucky enough to get the American Girl Dolls "Caring and Keeping of You" book before puberty even set in and knew pads and tampons were always within reach.

For too many, this monthly, natural occurrence leads to a choice between food or menstrual hygiene; missed school or work; ; anxiety; "pain more severe than a heart attack;" not getting to visit a loved one experiencing incarceration; a questioning of self; and so much more.

Understanding this, delegates at our 2018 National Convention called on Platform to take action for equity for ALL menstruators. They made clear it was time for full access to menstrual products in schools, in prisons and jails, in the workplace, and in bathrooms for all genders. Our delegates' leadership brought us to the table with Congresswoman Meng's staff where we added our voice to the conversation on her Menstrual Equity for All Act. We, along with our incredible partners at De Lune, called for explicitly gender-neutral language and affirmed our support for comprehensive efforts to end period poverty.

A year, a Period Party, and a ME4All lobby day later, we are thrilled to play our part in the movement for menstrual equity. We are grateful to learn from the organizations leading the way, because this is a movement long-fought but sure to be won. And we cannot wait to show up in solidarity for PERIOD's National Period Day on October 19. See you there.

In sisterhood and progress, Jen and The Platform Team

1 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Lingo

Endometriosis- The uterine lining is located on other organs in an individual’s body, typically within the lower abdomen and pelvis. While some people with endometriosis may not experience symptoms, endometriosis can cause lower abdominal pain, incredible period pain, painful sex, and challenges getting pregnant. 1

Dysmenorrhea- Put simply, dysmenorrhea is menstrual cramps. However, there are two types that lead to drastically different pain levels. Primary dysmenorrhea is cramping, whereas secondary dysmenorrhea is the result of a disorder in reproductive organs (including endometriosis). 2

Menorrhagia- Very heavy menstrual bleeding. 3

Menstrual Hygiene- “Menstrual Hygiene is vital to the and well-being of women and girls worldwide. It is about more than just access to sanitary pads and appropriate toilets – though those are important. It is also about ensuring women and girls live in an environment that values and supports their ability to manage their menstruation with dignity.” 4

Period Poverty- Period poverty is what happens when we treat menstrual products as a luxury. It is the inability to access menstrual products as they are needed, and has pervasive consequences for all menstruators from missed school and work to unhealthy solutions.

Toxic Shock- The result of bacteria producing toxins in the skin or on the mucous membranes. It is rare, but can be found in both menstruators and non-menstruators. The bacteria may be trapped in the vagina as a result of tampon use and can even grow on tampons, particularly when they are not changed properly or on superabsorbent tampons during a light flow. Tampons may cause small cuts allowing the bacteria to enter the blood. As a result, one may experience nausea or vomiting; fever and chills; peeling skin; diarrhea; rashes; and more.

2 MENSTRUAL EQUITY The Rundown

“Suppose that we had a menopausal woman President who had to make the decision of the Bay of Pigs or the Russian contretemps with Cuba at the time? Such a president could be ‘subject to the curious mental aberrations of that age group.’”

Period shame predates modern politics, but in 1970 Dr. Edgar Berman, a member of the Democratic Party’s Committee on National Priorities declared that because women are subject to “raging hormonal imbalances,” women cannot lead. Fortunately, there is truth to the “period power” notion, and the late U.S. Representative Patsy Mink forced Berman’s resignation. 5

While nearly humorous today, this display of period shame and ignorance is but a small piece of the inequity bound up in menstruation. At the core of this inequity is period poverty, or the inability to afford menstrual health products. Period poverty is what happens when we treat menstrual products as a luxury. It is the inability to access menstrual products as they are needed and has pervasive consequences for all menstruators from missed school and work to unhealthy solutions.

Today, about one in five girls in the United States have either left or missed school because they didn’t have access to menstrual products. Students should not need to worry about affording or accessing menstrual hygiene products in order to stay in school and stay healthy. Students’ educational opportunities should not be limited because of menstruation. Just as students are missing school, period poverty and shame leads to missed work days, which takes a toll on everyone. For those without access to paid sick leave, having their period could mean losing pay.

The treatment of menstrual hygiene as a luxury is apparent in 35 states across the country, which classify menstrual products (including pads, tampons and menstrual cups) as non- essential items and are resultantly subject to states’ sales tax. State sales taxes may be as high as 7 percent and a box of tampons can cost at least $7.00 pre-tax, for a total of $7.49 per box. 6 The federal minimum wage is $7.25, so for many menstruators in the low-wage workforce, they will spend well over an hour every month working just to be able to afford menstrual hygiene products. That estimate does not account for whether there are other family members who menstruate that need to be provided for or whether one box will provide the right number of tampons in the sizes the menstruator needs. The majority of menstruators will use an average of 9,120 tampons in their lifetime. In a state with 7 percent sales tax and $7 per box of tampons, that is $1,897.50 menstruators are spending on tampons alone. 7

These numbers have even deeper impacts for the 25 million women living below the poverty line in the U.S who cannot use their food stamps to purchase menstrual products 8 and the roughly 16 percent of transgender men making less than $10,000 a year. 9 For those living below the poverty line and experiencing homelessness, access to products is not the only problem. “Customer only” rules mean homeless individuals may not have access to a sanitary or private restroom. As one homeless woman testified, “The worst thing about being female and homeless is being on your period… Nobody here lets you use the bathroom. You have very few locations where you can change your tampon, where you can get pads … it’s really hard for females, especially at that time of [the] month.” 10

3 MENSTRUAL EQUITY The Rundown (cont'd)

Period Poverty is also prevalent for indigenous people living on reservations. On reservations, like Pine Ridge Reservation the degrees of isolation and poverty are so great that period poverty is rampant. Eva Marie Carney, founder of the Kwek Society as well as member and representative of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, cites the average per capita income on the Pine Ridge Reservation to be $9,150, and the nearest Wal-Mart is an hour away. A box of tampons at the local store is nearly two times higher than they would cost at Walmart. 11

It also has deep implications for individuals who are incarcerated. Health risks and denial of proper healthcare is commonplace throughout the carceral system. Failure to meet the health needs is evidenced by the restrictions and costs associated with accessing tampons and pads. Because the prisons fail to provide adequate menstrual products, individuals in prison and jails are forced to spend the very little money they make during their prison jobs or the money their family is sending to them, on acquiring products. As one daughter of a woman in prison recalls, when she used to send her mom money to buy basic necessities, it meant she could not afford to travel to see her mom. 12

One woman, Adrienne Kitcheyan, who experienced incarceration testified before the Arizona legislature: “Inmates had to wear multiple pads at once because the products were so bad, and they were allegedly punished when they bled on their uniforms. Some said they had to pay for extra pads unless they got a doctor’s note, but it cost $4 to schedule an appointment. When I’m making 9 cents [an hour] after tax, you really got to think if I want to put my whole month’s income into hopefully being approved for extra pads, if they believe I deserve them.” 13 While federal efforts have started to address menstrual product access in federal prisons, the majority of women and girls who are incarcerated are in state and local facilities, which are exempt from current regulations.

When menstruators cannot afford menstrual hygiene products, they face serious health risks. In addition to physical health dangers of wearing a tampon for too long or using a sock/piece of cloth that is not properly clean, there are mental health implications as well. The associated shame leads to higher rates of anxiety and depression for those experiencing period poverty. 14

Even for those who are free from the health risks associated with period poverty, menstrual pain can be debilitating. As gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter put it, period pain can best be analogized with “cutting your finger off without an anesthetic.” 15 Despite the unbearable pain, menstruators experience, they are often “deemed ‘overly dramatic’ and dismissed by medical professionals.” 16 For others, the causes of such pain, such as endometriosis, can lead to long-term effects like infertility.

Some menstruators may attempt to regulate their period pain by regulating their periods via contraceptives. Under the Affordable Care Act, employers are required to provide free contraception in their health insurance plans. Under the ACA, only religious employers with demonstrable “strictly held” religious beliefs could avoid the mandate. Under a new Trump Administration rule, more employers can qualify for exemption, making it harder for many to access the care they need.

4 MENSTRUAL EQUITY The Rundown (cont'd)

There are multiple avenues and steps that lawmakers need to pursue at every level of government. One of the most comprehensive of the current initiatives is Representative Grace Meng’s Menstrual Equity for All Act. A narrower version of the bill was first introduced in 2017 and garnered the support of 42 cosponsors. The latest version introduced was in 2019, with 72 cosponsors, sits before the House Committees on Education and the Workforce; Judiciary; Financial Services; Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce; and Transportation and Infrastructure.

The updated legislation would: Define menstrual hygiene as a qualified medical expense; Mandate Medicaid cover the costs of menstrual hygiene products; enable individuals to use their pre-tax dollars from health flexible spending accounts to pay for menstrual hygiene products; Permit homeless assistance providers to use funding allocated for shelter necessities (i.e. toothbrushes) on menstrual hygiene products; Allow states to use federal grant funds, which are already allocated for health and wellness initiatives, to provide students with free menstrual hygiene products in schools; Require every employer with 100+ employees to provide menstrual hygiene products free of charge for employees; Ensure all individuals who are incarcerated or in detention centers (at federal, state, and local facilities) have access to menstrual hygiene products on demand and at no cost; Ensure a visitor for an individual who is incarcerated will not be turned away for using menstrual products; Require all federal buildings, including the U.S. Capitol Campus, make menstrual hygiene products accessible in restrooms.

Of additional significance, the bill refers to tampons, pads, etc. as “menstrual” hygiene products rather than “feminine” hygiene products and uses gender neutral language when referring to people who menstruate. This means transgender men, nonbinary, and gender- nonconforming individuals are covered by the provisions.

While the Menstrual Equity for All Act has gained only Democratic support federally, state action has been drastically more bipartisan. Of the state-wide efforts, Republican Governors in Florida and Illinois signed their respective states’ moves to repeal the tampon tax.

Legislation might not stop comments like Berman’s — versions of which people pass off as jokes today — but it will protect and ensure that all menstruators get the care they deserve. In an ideal world, if the Menstrual Equity for All Act passes, it will act as a catalyst for even more comprehensive period policy. If the law normalizes periods and equips menstruators with the education and tools to have a healthy period maybe we can eliminate period poverty and shame for future generations.

5 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Numbers You Need to Know As you read these numbers, please note that statistics are not facts. Statistics are evidence of problems, trends, etc. Furthermore, the identity and demographic language in each point below mirrors the language used in the reports, but do not necessarily reflect the language used by Platform. For example, a study may have only allowed respondents to identify as “man” or “woman,” “male” or “female,” rather than cisgender, transgender, genderqueer, nonbinary, or woman-identified. Other studies may have only provided limited racial identifiers. It is also essential we acknowledge every person is an individual with a story uniquely their own. Each story is important story and cannot be properly summed up through a number. Finally, these numbers and the problems they represent can be triggering. We hope you will take care of yourself as you work through them.

Wages Women are well over half (58 percent) of low-wage workers who make less than $11 an hour. 17 Women are the vast majority (69 percent) of low-wage workers who make less than $10 an hour. 18 As a result of systemic barriers, women of color are disproportionately overrepresented in low-wage jobs. 19 Barriers have also led to about 16 percent of transgender men making less than $10,000 a year. Among the general population, that number drops to 4 percent. 20

Health Among women who take birth control pills, 14 percent take it purely for non- contraceptive purposes. 21 Birth control adds up: Implants cost over $800 and IUDs cost over $1,000 but both last for multiple years; pills cost between $20 to $50 per individual pack or about $240 to $600 a year; the Depo-Provera shot totals about $240 per year; the NuvaRing costs about $1,000 per year when factoring in its five-week turnover rate. 22 In 1980, 6 out of 100,000 women aged 19 to 44 years experienced toxic shock. Following the removal of some super absorbent tampon varieties from the market, that number dropped to 1 out of 100,000. Some estimates project 3 out of 100,000 menstruating women now experience toxic shock. It is most commonly found in “young women aged 15 to 25 years who are using tampons.” 23 One form of menstrual complications is uterine fibroids, a noncancerous tumour that grows between tissue layers in the uterus. By age 50, 80 percent of African-American women and 70 percent of white women will develop a uterine fibroid. 24 Estimates project more than 10 million American women have menorrhagia, which means they produce more than twice the amount of menstrual blood. 25 Among women ages 15 to 49, about 10 percent experience endometriosis and 30 to 50 percent with endometriosis will experience infertility. 26

Homelessness In 2017, nearly 16 million women ages 18 and older lives in poverty. 27 Among transgender individuals, 22 percent more people experienced homelessness in 2018 than in 2017; among women, that number rose 3 percent; and among men that number rose 1 percent. The percentage of individual women in unsheltered locations increased by 4 percent. 28 Of the unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness, 38 percent were women and girls and 25 percent of unaccompanied youth in unsheltered locations were female. 29 Of the unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness, African Americans “comprised a larger share of the sheltered unaccompanied youth population than the unsheltered population.” 30

6 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Numbers You Need to Know (cont'd)

Homelessness (cont'd) Of the unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness, 24 percent were Hispanic or Latino. 31 Transgender individuals are twice as likely as the general population to experience homelessness. 32

The Shame Period Shaming is real: 42 percent of women experience period shaming; 20 percent of those who experience period shaming did so at the hands of a male friend; 12 percent of women were shamed by a family member; 10 percent were shamed by a classmate. 33 A recent study found that about one in five girls in the United States have either left or missed school because they didn’t have access to menstrual products. 34 More than half (51 percent) of men believe that women should not mention their menstrual cycles in the workplace. 35 Nearly 75 percent of women have hid a pad or tampon from view; 65 percent got dressed in clothes that wouldn’t show leaks; and 29 percent canceled plans (i.e. swimming) to avoid the risk of exposing their period. 36 Of the 63 percent of women who canceled plans due to PMS or period pain, 40 percent made up a false excuse rather than say it was due to PMS or period pain. 37 Among menstruators, 62 percent say another person did not take their period pain seriously. 38 Just 18 percent of women and 19 percent of men enjoy period sex, but only 10 percent of men find it “fun.” On the other hand, 35 percent of men say period sex is “inappropriate” and 31 percent of men say period sex is “gross.” 39

Time for Change An individual menstruator uses about 17,000 tampons or pads in their lifetime and in the U.S. it costs people more than $2 billion to purchase menstrual products. 40 A study of women living in poverty in the St. Louis-area found two-thirds of respondents forgoed menstrual hygiene products at least once in the past year due to cost; 21 percent went without menstrual hygiene products on a monthly-basis; and about half said they often had to choose between food and menstrual hygiene products. 41 “Painful, irregular, or heavy periods affect up to 14 percent of females in their childbearing years, estimates WomensHealth.gov. Moreover, a 2012 study found 32 to 40 percent of people who have periods report this pain is so severe they have to miss work or school.” 42 Among voters, 90 percent support measures to make menstrual hygiene products available to women in prison: 85 percent of Republicans and 94 percent of Democrats. 43

7 MENSTRUAL EQUITY All that Governs

Industry Standards 44 Following the toxic shock syndrome (TSS) epidemic in the 1980s, the FDA issued regulations on the acceptable standards of menstrual tampons. It has been regularly updated since its introduction in 1982 until 2018. Among its provisions, the regulation calls for: prominent and legible labeling that warns of TSS; what to do if TSS symptoms present; the risk of TSS; the “advisability of using tampons with the minimum absorbency needed;” and notice that not using tampons or at least alternating pads and tampons reduces TSS risk.

Through a recent 2020 spending package, Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-6) secured a directive that the Office on Women’s Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services “commission a study on the usage of, type, preferences, and frequency in changing different menstrual hygiene products by race and socioeconomic status.”

Prison Regulations In August 2017, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons issued a recommendation that federal prisons provide free “ products” to women in federal centers. As leading advocate, Jennifer Weiss-Wolf stated, “Right now, it’s just words on paper, and it’s only as useful as how strictly it’s enforced. However, what’s influential about this guidance is that it’s the largest governmental body to weigh in on this issue." 45

Over a year later, in its final act, the 115th Congress took it a step further. In passing the First Step Act of 2018, Congress guaranteed menstrual products would be available at no cost to women in federal prison. However, prisons may still set arbitrary quotas on availability of menstrual products and prisons may continue to refuse laundry privileges to someone who bled through their clothing. 46 Above all, the majority of women and girls who are incarcerated are in state and local facilities. 47

Still, a year later things improved. Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-6) ensured fiscal year 2020 spending packages include requirements that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons issue guidance to ensure each menstruation has the autonomy to decide how many menstrual products they need; to prohibit a visitor from being turned away due to menstruation; and to require oversight via reporting requirements.

Veterans Affairs Representative Grace Meng’s (D-NY-6) fiscal year 2020 spending package successes also require the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to provide free menstrual hygiene products in public female, unisex, and family restrooms in all Veterans Affairs facilities.

U.S. Aid for International Development (USAID) Finally, Representative Grace Meng’s (D-NY-6) passed assurances that U.S. Aid for International Development (USAID) will issue an updated report on how its Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs ensure the availability of menstrual hygiene products and on how USAID could improve its management of investments in this area.

8 MENSTRUAL EQUITY All that Governs (cont'd)

Birth Control In October 2017, the Trump Administration announced its proposed rule to allow even more employers — including nonprofit groups, for-profit companies, other nongovernmental employers, and schools and universities — to claim exemption from providing contraceptive coverage. This is a sharp departure from previous requirements that only religious groups with demonstrable “sincerely held” religious objects could obtain an exemption.

The following November, the administration issued the final rule codifying the exemptions. Fortunately, 13 states — California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington state, as well as Washington, D.C. — sought an injunction (a restraint on action) on the regulation.

In January 2019, U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam ordered a temporary injunction, but only in the 13 states that issued the lawsuit. The ruling was issued on the grounds that the rule may violate the Affordable Care Act’s provision requiring employer insurance plans to provide free birth control services. Under current law, only explicitly religious organizations may opt out, as long as they can demonstrate a religious objection. 48

9 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Who's Saying What

“We cannot end this tax yet because there is a lack of knowledge. The majority of legislators I talk to have not heard of the tampon tax. They will openly tell me that this is the first time they are hearing about it.”- Nadya Okamoto, Founder PERIOD 49

"What issues can Republicans and conservatives work with this new [post-Women’s March] movement? When you look closely at the movement, there are a lot… Another easy one: Elected Republicans in state legislatures (the majority of them being in party control) should seek to make feminine hygiene products such as tampons, exempt from sales tax.”- Evan Siegfried in “What Republicans Have to Learn From the Women’s March.” 50

"Before providing pads in the school bathrooms, girls would roll toilet paper in their underwear, tie sweaters around their waists, or go home early because they did not have feminine hygiene products. Some girls used to miss entire school days because they did not have a sufficient way to manage their periods. Now that pads are available in the bathrooms, girls are using them more. Not only is this a healthier solution, but it also allows girls to stay in school. Without easy access to menstrual products, girls miss critical instructional time, which can be detrimental to their academic performance. Many girls at my school have thanked me and other Girl Up Club members for our work in providing free feminine hygiene products in the bathrooms.”- Natalie Baumeister, a senior at Justice High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. 51

“The Trump administration’s daily injustices against migrant families and children seeking refuge is monstrous and must end. Our system must be compassionate and humane. Children left in cages and in solitude, having food thrown at them, and girls with periods being left to bleed through their clothes and denied showers for days on end – such abhorrent treatment of children is morally reprehensible. I await the Secretary’s answers to my questions and demand the administration to immediately offer the basic necessities children and families need, including menstrual hygiene products.”- Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-6)

52

10 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Who's Saying What (cont'd)

“The Fair Care Act covers preexisting conditions, lowers costs and increases consumer choice by incorporating bipartisan proposals, academic research and scientific data. Most importantly, it’s policy that will give Americans fair coverage at a fair price. My constituents and Americans across the country are struggling, and can’t afford to wait for health care relief any longer. We have little to no control over sudden health issues or preexisting conditions, but we are right to expect access to fair care.”- Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4) 53

“Families across the country are struggling with the costs of rising deductions and out- of-pocket expenses. I am proud to support this common-sense bipartisan legislation that will allow families to use their savings accounts to purchase the items they need to stay healthy, for less money.”- Representative Ron Kind (D-WI-3) on the Restoring Access to Medication Act 54

11 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Recent Legislation

H.R.1332 - Fair Care Act of 2019 Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4) To address the high costs of health care services, prescription drugs, and health insurance coverage in the United States, and for other purposes.This legislation codifies menstrual care products - including tampon, pad, liner, cup, sponge, or similar product - be reimbursable through Health Flexible Spending Arrangements And Health Reimbursement.

H.R.1882 - Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2019 Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-6) To increase the availability and affordability of menstrual hygiene products for individuals with limited access, and for other purposes.

H.R.1922 - Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2019 Representative Ron Kind (D-WI-3) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include certain over-the-counter medical products as qualified medical expenses. This act pertains to menstrual equity in that it requires menstrual care products — including tampon, pad, liner, cup, sponge, or similar product — to be treated as paid for medical care and that money spent on menstrual products be reimbursable through Health Flexible Spending Arrangements And Health Reimbursement.

H.R.2091/S.1049 - Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2019 Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and their families have access to the contraception they need in order to promote the health and readiness of all members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. This legislation acknowledges that members of the Armed Forces need counseling on the availability of contraception for both pregnancy prevention and non-contraceptive purposes (i.e. menstrual suppression and predictable menstrual patterns). It further recognizes that such counseling and knowledge is “important in ensuring readiness for deployment to remote or operational theaters.”

H.R.2403 - Menstrual Hygiene Products in Federal Buildings Act Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-6) To require agencies to ensure that menstrual hygiene products are stocked in, and available free of charge in, restrooms in public buildings, and for other purposes.

H.R.2500 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-9) To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. This legislation calls for annual reports “relating to the gynecological and perinatal health of women members of the Armed Forces participating in the study.”

H.R.2803/ S.1461 - Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) To require health insurance coverage for the treatment of infertility. The legislation highlights the reality that endometriosis and menstrual cycle defects are among the causes of infertility.

H.R.3865 - Robin Danielson Feminine Hygiene Product Safety Act of 2019 Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12) To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a program of research regarding the risks posed by the presence of dioxin, synthetic fibers, chemical fragrances, and other components of feminine hygiene products.

12 MENSTRUAL EQUITY What States Are Doing This is not an exhaustive list of state-level policy change. This section is intended to lay out the different types of legislation and laws that are at play on a more localized scale.

Tampon Tax In 35 states across the country, menstrual products (including pads, tampons and menstrual cups) are considered non-essential items, and are resultantly subject to states’ sales tax.

The 35 states with the tampon tax are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Among the 15 states without the tax, five do not have any sales tax (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon).

By early November 2018, 10 states passed measures — largely through bipartisan initiatives — to repeal the “tampon tax:” Nevada, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida. 55

Though efforts were undertaken across the country to repeal the tampon tax, success is likely to be found in Rhode Island, where House lawmakers approved a budget plan that would repeal the tampon tax. In fact, “Rhode Island repealed the tax in its budget bill. Representative Edith H. Ajello and Senator Louis P. DiPalma, both Democrats, had submitted separate legislation to do so earlier in the year, as they had every year since 2016. The measure, which would cost around $800,000 a year, was effectively approved through the budget.” 56

Smaller steps were taken in Virginia, which moved to reduce the tax, and California, where the Governor announced plans to address the tax for a period of time.

The Bipartisanship When the tampon tax was passed, Florida’s legislature was Republican-controlled while New York and Connecticut were Democrat-controlled. Nevada’s elimination of the tampon tax was via ballot measure and received bipartisan voter support. Illinois’ efforts passed a Democratic legislature and received the Republican Governor’s signature.

Other Initiatives New Hampshire’s Governor, Republican Chris Sununu signed a bill in mid-July to mandate free pads and tampons be provided in all gender-neutral and girl's bathrooms in the state’s public middle and high schools. New Hampshire joins only three other states — California, Illinois, and New York — in requiring high schools to provide free menstrual products.

During this past legislative session, Georgia state lawmakers passed a measure to allocate $1.5 million in the 2020 budget for schools and community centers in low-income areas to purchase menstrual products. 57 The Georgia Legislature is Republican controlled.

13 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Stories

In 2016, 911 call taker Alisha Coleman unexpectedly got a heavy period, causing her to leak on her chair twice. She was then fired for the leak. Coleman was prepared to sue, but a district court dismissed the case. Then, the ACLU stepped in and the case was settled. 58

That same year, Coral Martin was serving time at the San Luis Obispo County Jail. While there, Martin soaked through the provided pads and commissary was not open. Having been “arrested during an episode of psychosis and the jail had denied access to some of her medications,” Martin’s mental state faltered. She was then sent to an isolation unit “without any clothes or tampons, sitting in her own menstrual blood.” Martin, now 23, said the experience of having your period in jail “just makes you feel like an animal.” 59

Kenny Jones, a transgender man, was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at 14 years old, a year before his first period. It proved emotionally difficult when his period came: “Getting a period made me feel like less of a man, even though my teenage self already identified as male. I, too, used to associate periods solely with cisgender women. In my eyes, a period was the opposite of masculine, and so my ego and internalized expectations of male dominance were enough to convince me to bottle it up and speak about it with no one.” 60

Despite intense and painful symptoms, Padma Lakshmi’s mom told her that her then- undiagnosed endometriosis was “just our lot in life because I’m sure that’s what she was told by her mother.” Years later, while in her 20s, she went on birth control. This did not help the symptoms. While in her 30s she had a number of ovarian cysts removed. Even as the cysts were removed, her doctor failed to inform her that she had to monitor a chronic condition, and as a result she landed in the hospital for severe abdominal cramps: “It turned out that some endometrial tissue had wrapped itself around [her] small intestine like a tourniquet.” This was not the only time her doctors failed to provide proper care. For decades, she was “prescribed narcotic pain medication by various gynecologists who didn’t see anything abnormal in her ‘very abnormal systems.’” Not until she was 36 did Lakshmi find a doctor who took her health condition seriously, but even then she had lost a fallopian tube. The years of endometriosis stole away her time. She reflects, “had I been diagnosed at 16, or 26 or even 32… I would have been able to be more present for my family and friends… [had] a greater capacity to advance professionally, and I would have also had a greater capacity for intimacy.’” As a result of this decades-long, painful, and emotional process, Lakshmi founded Endofound so that the next generation does not have to live her experience, nor will they have to “feel betrayed by their own bodies or to feel alone.” 61

When Taylor was 23 years old, she was living on her own in San Francisco, experienced homelessness for 109 days, and had to decide between food and menstrual products. She constantly had to ask herself, “Do I want to eat and be full, or how can I ration my menstrual products so they can last the duration of my period?" While Taylor was always able to obtain menstrual products, she had trouble accessing them as needed or in the amount needed. In response, she would ration the products; have to change them before public bathrooms closed at night; and use McDonald’s napkins. On top of that, her period became irregular and her menstrual pain increased due to the stress of homelessness; however, she could not afford midol to ease the pain. 62

14 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Think On It We provided you with the information we found most relevant, but there's always more to the story. Here are some sources to help you continue learning in order to develop your own conclusions.

The Endometriosis Foundation of America strives to increase awareness, provide advocacy, facilitate expert surgical training, and fund landmark endometriosis research. Engaged in a robust campaign to inform both the medical community and the public, the EndoFound places particular emphasis on the critical importance of early diagnosis and effective intervention while simultaneously providing education to the next generation of medical professionals and their patients. endofound.org

#HappyPeriod is for those that would otherwise go without. #HappyPeriod is a social movement of girlfriends providing menstrual hygiene kits. Their initiative supports anyone that is homeless, low- income, and/or living in poverty. Including LGBT, non- binary, teens, veterans, and disabled. hashtaghappyperiod.org

PERIOD was founded in 2014 by two 16-year-old high school students with a passion for periods. To date, PERIOD has addressed over 700,000 periods through product distribution and registered over 400 campus chapters in all 50 US states and in over 30 countries. period.org

Period Equity is the nation’s first law and policy organization fighting for menstrual equity – committed to ensuring that menstrual products are affordable, safe and available to those in need. periodequity.org

Red Dot aims to convert period shaming into public and proud period discussion. By combining art and comedy, Red Dot hosts events to educate the public on the inequity of period policy. Education is best received through laughter and reflection. reddotcampaign.org

THINX is fighting for better access to puberty education, amplifying grassroots activism, and donating their undies and time. When you purchase Thinx you’re helping give life to their programming and initiatives including advocating for equity and educating future generations. shethinx.com

15 MENSTRUAL EQUITY On the Table When we surround ourselves with passionate women-identified folx, our knowledge grows. Get together with your organization, a few friends, or your peers and talk about your process in learning or reexamining this topic. These questions are meant to aide your conversation, but feel free to explore ideas and questions of your own. Step outside your comfort zone. None of us have all the answers, that's why we need to work together. You are sure to bring something to the table that no one else considered. Your voice is meant to be heard. Let's hear what ideas you have on the table. Share only what you feel comfortable sharing, but be sure to share the space.

Do you have any lingering questions about the topic?

What were your initial reactions to the statistics or the information presented?

How did you feel learning about/working through this topic?

What do you think is the most common misconception about the topic?

What are the main barriers to achieving progress on this issue?

What strategies would you employ to overcome them?

What is missing from Congressional legislation and how would you address it?

Of the policy needs, which do you think should be addressed first and how would you go about it?

What were your evaluative criteria?

What was your favorite solution that you evaluated?

What would be your ideal solution?

What was one solution that someone else suggested that you want to discuss more?

What do you wish people knew about this topic?

What does your campus/community do to support menstrual equity?

What can you do at the local level to address this topic?

What policy would you like to see advocated for by Platform?

16 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Do Something Take a stand and make your thoughts heard. We ask that in your outreach you do not state that your opinion is the official stance of Platform, unless it is taken from our Platform Pledge. But you can certainly give us a shoutout for having the conversation.

Join us for National Period Day On October 19, 2019, PERIOD is leading over 50 rallies in all 50 states. They’re elevating the issue of period poverty and demanding real change to making period products more accessible for all and ending the Tampon Tax. This is an inclusive rally: Whether you menstruate or not, EVERYONE is welcome. Bring all your family and friends, bring posters, wear red!

Blog It We know you have something to say! Walk us through your perspective and rally people to your cause. Your posts will be featured on our website and social media.

Email your blog to: [email protected], include "Blog Post" and a title in the subject line

Get On Social Media This isn't "slacktivism!" According to a report from the Congressional Management Foundation, which surveyed Congressional Staff, “71 [percent of respondents] said social media comments directed to the Member/Senator by ‘multiple constituents affiliated with a specific group or cause’ would have ‘some’ or ‘a lot’ of influence on an undecided lawmaker.” There you have it—tweet, Instagram, and post away on Facebook. #GiveMeAPlatform.

@PlatformWomen | facebook.com/PlatformWomen | @PlatformWomen

Contact Your Reps You have a right to be heard! Head over to All In Together's Action Center* and once you sign up they will provide you with the names and portals to contact your elected officials. You can write/say whatever comes to mind, but feel free to use the prompt below.

*All In Together is nonpartisan and does not take a stance on this issue but gives you the tools to make your input known*. Dear ______, This month, I, along with young women across the nation, worked with Platform to advance the conversations on menstrual equity. As your constituent, you should know that I believe ______because ______. We need to further conversations and advance policies that will ______. I ask that you ______. I plan on using my voice and staying active until change is realized. You should know that I certainly exercise my right to vote.

Go to: aitogether.org/actioncenter

17 De Lune

A native of New York, Mimi Millard spent her formative years battling debilitating period pain. While earning her Engineering degree at Cornell University, she fainted while walking through campus due to complications from a popular painkiller. A trained problem-solver, Mimi made it her mission to find safe, natural, and effective period pain solutions. In creating these solutions for herself, she discovered just how prevalent and disruptive the problem of period symptom mistreatment is.

After years of experimentation, Mimi joined forces with like-minded researchers, physicians, and dietitians to craft revolutionary approaches for managing and eliminating even the worst period symptoms. Solutions designed for bleeders by bleeders, with long-term cycle health in mind.Now with a team of experts in NYC, LA, DC, and Chicago, De Lune works nonstop to provide safe and effective menstrual health solutions that empower bleeders everywhere.

Shope De Lune's Pain Tonic, PMS Pills, and PMS Chocolate at delune.co. MENSTRUAL EQUITY Sources

1. “Endometriosis.” UCLA Health. Accessed September 2019. http://obgyn.ucla.edu/endometriosis

2. “Dysmenorrhea.” Cleveland Clinic. July 13, 2014. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4148-dysmenorrhea

3. Kimberly Holland. “Menstruation: Facts, Statistics, and You.” Healthline. November 28, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/facts- statistics-menstruation#6

4. “Menstrual Hygiene.” World Vision. Accessed September 2019. https://www.wvi.org/clean-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-wash/menstrual- hygiene

5. Lara Rutherford-Morrison. “Hillary Clinton Can't Be President Because Of Menstruation, Claims This Letter To The Editor, But That's Wrong For So Many Reasons.” Bustle. October 17, 2016. https://www.bustle.com/articles/189974-hillary-clinton-cant-be-president-because- of-menstruation-claims-this-letter-to-the-editor-but-thats

6. “State Sales Tax Rates.” Sales Tax Institute. Jul. 1, 2019. https://www.salestaxinstitute.com/resources/rates

7. Jessica Kane. “Here's How Much A Woman's Period Will Cost Her Over A Lifetime.” Huffington Post. Dec. 7, 2017. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/period-cost-lifetime_n_7258780

8. Bérénice Magistretti. “FemBeat: Period Poverty Is A Thing, Even In The U.S”. Forbes. January 25, 2019. https://www.forbes.com/sites/berenicemagistretti/2019/01/25/fembeat-period-poverty-is-a-thing-even-in-the-u-s/#70a08b53569e

9. Zoyander Street. “Yes, Men Can Have Periods and We Need to Talk About Them.” Daily Beast. Sept. 21, 2016. http://bit.ly/2PQpcbJ

10. Faria Akram. “Finding Feminine Products Often Frustrates Homeless Women.” Reporting Texas. December 10, 2015. https://reportingtexas.com/finding-feminine-products-often-frustrates-homeless-women/

11. “About Us/ How You Can Help.” The Kwek Society. Accessed October 2019. https://kweksociety.org/? fbclid=IwAR20evj2DjnoX7re3nuad2iY8c7jHqvRSfR36cZpcwqwX8FEi2MqLshVJPc

12. Alysia Santo. "What Is Prison Like for Women and Girls?" The Marshall Project. October 10, 2017. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/10/10/what-is-prison-like-for-women-and-girls

13. Samantha Michaels. “Jail Is a Terrible Place to Have a Period. One Woman Is on a Crusade to Make It Better.” Mother Jones. February 21, 2019. https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2019/02/jail-california-tampons-menstruation-paula-canny-sanitary-pads/

14. Emma Elsworthy. “Women who experience period poverty more likely to suffer anxiety or depression, study claims.” Independent. July 18, 2018. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/period-poverty-anxiety-depression-study-women-mental-health-sanitary-products- a8452581.html

15. Caroline Praderio. “A doctor explains why period cramps can hurt way more than a heart attack.” March 5, 2018. https://www.insider.com/are-period-cramps-more-painful-than-heart-attack-2018-3

16. Stephanie Barnes. “Doctors Can Dismiss Women's Health Concerns. Here's How To Take Back Some Control.” Huffington Post. March 14, 2019. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/doctors-who-ignore-women-health-concerns-advice_l_5c7020a8e4b00eed0833a29c

17. Jasmine Tucker and Kayla Patrick. “Women in Low-Wage Jobs May Not Be Who You Expect.” National Women’s Law Center. August 30, 2017. https://nwlc.org/resources/women-in-low-wage-jobs-may-not-be-who-you-expect/

18. Jasmine Tucker and Kayla Patrick. “Women in Low-Wage Jobs May Not Be Who You Expect.” National Women’s Law Center. August 30, 2017. https://nwlc.org/resources/women-in-low-wage-jobs-may-not-be-who-you-expect/

19. Jasmine Tucker and Kayla Patrick. “Women in Low-Wage Jobs May Not Be Who You Expect.” National Women’s Law Center. August 30, 2017. https://nwlc.org/resources/women-in-low-wage-jobs-may-not-be-who-you-expect/

20. Zoyander Street. “Yes, Men Can Have Periods and We Need to Talk About Them.” Daily Beast. Sept. 21, 2016. http://bit.ly/2PQpcbJ

21. Reviewed by Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH. “Birth Control: Benefits Beyond Pregnancy Prevention.” Web MD. December 26, 2018 https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/other-benefits-birth-control#2

22. Elly Kosova. “How much do different kinds of birth control cost without insurance?” National Women’s Health Network. November 17, 2017. https://nwhn.org/much-different-kinds-birth-control-cost-without-insurance/

23. “Toxic Shock Syndrome.” National Organization for Rare Disorders. Accessed September 2019. https://rarediseases.org/rare- diseases/toxic-shock-syndrome/

24. Kimberly Holland. “Menstruation: Facts, Statistics, and You.” Healthline. November 28, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/facts- statistics-menstruation#6

25. Kimberly Holland. “Menstruation: Facts, Statistics, and You.” Healthline. November 28, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/facts- statistics-menstruation#6

26. Kimberly Holland. “Menstruation: Facts, Statistics, and You.” Healthline. November 28, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/facts- statistics-menstruation#6 MENSTRUAL EQUITY Sources (cont'd)

27. “NWLC Resources on Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance in 2017.” National Women’s Law Center. September 13, 2018. https://nwlc.org/resources/nwlc-resources-on-poverty-income-and-health-insurance-in-2017/

28. Meghan Henry, Anna Mahathey, Tyler Morrill, Anna Robinson, Azim Shivji, and Rian Watt, Abt Associates. “The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.” The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. December 2018. https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2018-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

29. Meghan Henry, Anna Mahathey, Tyler Morrill, Anna Robinson, Azim Shivji, and Rian Watt, Abt Associates. “The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.” The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. December 2018. https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2018-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

30. Meghan Henry, Anna Mahathey, Tyler Morrill, Anna Robinson, Azim Shivji, and Rian Watt, Abt Associates. “The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.” The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. December 2018. https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2018-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

31. Meghan Henry, Anna Mahathey, Tyler Morrill, Anna Robinson, Azim Shivji, and Rian Watt, Abt Associates. “The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.” The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. December 2018. https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2018-AHAR-Part-1.pdf

32. Zoyander Street. “Yes, Men Can Have Periods and We Need to Talk About Them.” Daily Beast. Sept. 21, 2016. http://bit.ly/2PQpcbJ

33. Valerie Siebert, SWNS. “Nearly half of women have experienced ‘period shaming’.” New York Post. January 3, 2018. https://menstrualhygieneday.org/nearly-half-us-women-experienced-period-shaming/

34. “Nearly 1 in 5 American Girls Have Missed School Due to Lack of Period Protection1: Always® Joins Forces with Gina Rodriguez & Feeding America® to Help #EndPeriodPoverty and Keep Girls in School.” Market Watch. Aug. 7, 2018. https://on.mktw.net/2VefaHr

35. Valerie Siebert, SWNS. “Nearly half of women have experienced ‘period shaming’.” New York Post. January 3, 2018. https://menstrualhygieneday.org/nearly-half-us-women-experienced-period-shaming/

36. Valerie Siebert, SWNS. “Nearly half of women have experienced ‘period shaming’.” New York Post. January 3, 2018. https://menstrualhygieneday.org/nearly-half-us-women-experienced-period-shaming/

37. Valerie Siebert, SWNS. “Nearly half of women have experienced ‘period shaming’.” New York Post. January 3, 2018. https://menstrualhygieneday.org/nearly-half-us-women-experienced-period-shaming/

38. Valerie Siebert, SWNS. “Nearly half of women have experienced ‘period shaming’.” New York Post. January 3, 2018. https://menstrualhygieneday.org/nearly-half-us-women-experienced-period-shaming/

39. Valerie Siebert, SWNS. “Nearly half of women have experienced ‘period shaming’.” New York Post. January 3, 2018. https://menstrualhygieneday.org/nearly-half-us-women-experienced-period-shaming/

40. Kimberly Holland. “Menstruation: Facts, Statistics, and You.” Healthline. November 28, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/facts- statistics-menstruation#6

41. “Nearly 1 in 5 American Girls Have Missed School Due to Lack of Period Protection1: Always® Joins Forces with Gina Rodriguez & Feeding America® to Help #EndPeriodPoverty and Keep Girls in School.” Market Watch. Aug. 7, 2018. https://on.mktw.net/2VefaHr

42. Kimberly Holland. “Menstruation: Facts, Statistics, and You.” Healthline. November 28, 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/facts- statistics-menstruation#5

43. Robert Blizzard. “National Poll Results Memorandum.” Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of Justice Action Network. Jan. 25, 2018. https://politi.co/2DOu8Ju

44. “CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.” U.S. Food & Drug Administration. April 1, 2018. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=801.430

45. Mattie Quinn. “New Federal Tampons Rule Follows States and Cities' Flow.” Governing. August 29, 2017.https://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/gov-tampons-pads-prisons-states-federal.html

46. Anjana Samant. “The First Step Act Is a Small Step for Incarcerated Women.” December 27, 2018; https://www.aclu.org/blog/prisoners- rights/women-prison/first-step-act-small-step-incarcerated-women

47. Anjana Samant. “The First Step Act Is a Small Step for Incarcerated Women.” December 27, 2018; https://www.aclu.org/blog/prisoners- rights/women-prison/first-step-act-small-step-incarcerated-women

48. Alex Johnson. “Judge blocks Trump birth control rules in 13 states and D.C.” NBC News. Jan. 13, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-blocks-trump-birth-control-rules-13-states-d-c-n958226

49. Rachel Janfaza. “Nadya Okamoto Announces a Yearlong Campaign to Tackle Period Poverty.” Self. July 25, 2019. https://www.self.com/story/nadya-okamoto-national-period-day-campaign

50. Evan Siegfried. “What Republicans Have to Learn From the Women’s March.” The New York Times. January 23, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/opinion/what-republicans-have-to-learn-from-the-womens-march.html

MENSTRUAL EQUITY Sources (cont'd)

51. “Meng Unveils Bold Proposal to Provide Menstrual Equity to All.” Congresswoman Grace Meng. March 26, 2019. https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-unveils-bold-proposal-to-provide-menstrual-equity-to-all

52. “Meng Demands Answers From DHS About Appalling Treatment of Children, Deprivation of Menstrual Hygiene Products to Girls Detained at the Border.” Congresswoman Grace Meng. September 16, 2019. https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-demands- answers-from-dhs-about-appalling-treatment-of-children-0

53. “Westerman Introduces Health Care Legislation to Cover Preexisting Conctions, Lower Cost, Increase Consumer Choice.” Congressman Bruce Westerman. March 10, 2019. https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-introduces-health-care-legislation- cover-preexisting

54. “Reps. Kind, Meng, Walorski, and LaHood Introduce Bill to Lower Health Care Costs.” Congressman Ron Kind. March 27, 2019. https://kind.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-kind-meng-walorski-and-lahood-introduce-bill-lower-health-care

55. Jennifer Weiss-Wolfe and Steve Andersson. “Republican or Democrat- We Can All Agree on Axing the Tampon Tax.” Newsweek. Apr. 15, 2019. http://bit.ly/2Y8pzBj

56. Karen Zraick. “22 States Considered Eliminating the ‘Tampon Tax’ This Year. Here’s What Happened.” The New York Times. July 12, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/us/tampon-tax.html

57. Maya T. Prabhu. “Georgia OKs providing menstrual products to low-income girls, women.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Apr. 9, 2019. https://on-ajc.com/2UZyFi4

58. “ACLU Appeals Case of Georgia Woman Fired For Getting Her Period at Work.” ACLU. August 17, 2017. https://www.aclu.org/press- releases/aclu-appeals-case-georgia-woman-fired-getting-her-period-work?redirect=news/aclu-appeals-case-georgia-woman-fired-getting-her- period-work

59. Samantha Michaels. “Jail Is a Terrible Place to Have a Period. One Woman Is on a Crusade to Make It Better.” Mother Jones. February 21, 2019. https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2019/02/jail-california-tampons-menstruation-paula-canny-sanitary-pads/

50. Kenny Jones. “Getting My Period Made Me Feel Like Less of a Man—Even Though I Knew I Was.” Self. May 24, 2018. https://www.self.com/story/male-period-trans-model-kenny-jones

61. “Padma Lakshmi’s Personal Cause: The Endometriosis Foundation of America - Womens Health.” EndoFound.Org. March 12, 2015. https://www.endofound.org/padma-lakshmi-s-personal-cause-the-endometriosis-foundation-of-america

62. Brittney McNamara. “How Periods Perpetuate Homelessness.” Teen Vogue. December 20, 2017. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/homelessness-and-periods