A new initiative aimed at promoting menstrual equity is underway in Baltimore, Maryland, following the introduction of a bill by city council members seeking to expand access to essential hygiene products.
Councilman Paris Gray spearheaded the legislation, presented during a recent city council meeting. He emphasized that this measure signifies Baltimore’s dedication to ensuring dignity, accessibility, and public health for all residents.
“Access to menstrual products should be considered as fundamental as access to soap or toilet paper,” stated Councilman Gray. “It is an essential component of personal hygiene, yet remains out of reach for far too many individuals. These products are not a luxury; they’re a necessity, and their absence can lead to significant stress and hardship.”
The proposed bill mandates that all city-owned and leased buildings with public restrooms provide menstrual products free of charge. This includes restrooms designated for men, women, family use, or single occupancy.
While the bill formalizes a policy already partially in motion by Mayor Brandon Scott’s administration and the Department of General Services, Councilman Gray asserted that Baltimore is not merely following a national trend but actively leading the charge towards menstrual equality across the country.
“Cities nationwide are recognizing the importance of providing free access to these products, and Baltimore is proudly positioned at the forefront of this vital effort,” he remarked.
Similar measures are gaining traction elsewhere. For instance:
- The Long Beach Unified School District in California recently informed parents that menstrual products will be available in girls’ bathrooms, all-gender bathrooms, and at least one boys’ bathroom within schools serving grades 3 through 12. The district stated their commitment to “reducing barriers to learning and fostering a supportive environment for all students.”
- The email explicitly noted the availability of these products ensures that “any student who menstruates—including transgender boys and nonbinary students—can access these necessary products with dignity and discretion.”
- California also recently enacted the “Menstrual Equality for All Act,” requiring schools to stock restrooms with menstrual products, including in at least one men’s restroom, by the start of the 2024-25 school year.
As outlined in the state’s education code:
“On or before the start of the 2024–25 school year, a public school…shall stock the school’s restrooms at all times with an adequate supply of menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, in all women’s restrooms and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men’s restroom.”
The legislation defines menstrual products as pads and tampons specifically “for use in connection with the menstrual cycle” and expresses the legislature’s intent to “promote period equity through adequate access to menstrual products.”
