’Menstrual equity’ : Free tampons for New York City schools and jails

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  • ’Menstrual equity’: Free tampons for New York City schools and jails - BBC News
    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36597949

    Free tampons and pads are coming to New York City’s public schools, prisons and homeless shelters.

    The city will be the first in the US to introduce such a programme.
    Why are city authorities doing this, how will it work and how much will it cost?

    New York City council voted unanimously on Tuesday for a series of measures to provide menstrual hygiene products free of charge in public schools, prisons and homeless shelters.

    The bills are not yet law as Mayor Bill de Blasio needs to enact them, but he is a supporter, he says, “because tampons and pads aren’t luxuries - they’re necessities”.

    The measures were sponsored and promoted by city councillor Julissa Ferrares-Copeland, who says “periods have been stigmatised for too long”.

    She said she was happy to be known as the “period legislator”.