The members of the City Council in Maryland presented a bill on Monday to expand access to menstrual products in all bathrooms administered by the city, including those designated for men.
Baltimore Councilor, Paris Gray, who is the main sponsor of the bill, presented the legislation during the bimonthly meeting of the City Council.
Gray said that the bill is not only a proposal, but reflects the city's commitment to menstrual equity and the values that Baltimore appreciates, including dignity, accessibility and public health.
“Access to menstrual products should be as fundamental as access to soap or toilet paper,” Gray said. “It is an essential part of personal hygiene and, nevertheless, for too many people, these products remain out of reach. Menstrual products are not a luxury. They are a necessity and the absence of access can create stress and undue difficulties.”
The California school district reports that the products of the parents period are in bathrooms for 'any student who menstruate'
If female hygiene products should be available in male baths, it has become a divisive theme in places such as university campuses, since only women can menstruate. (Getty images)
Gray said the bill, if approved, will require that all buildings owned by the city and leased with public bathrooms provide menstrual products, free of charge.
“This includes bathrooms and all kinds of facilities, whether designated for men, women, family use or unique occupation,” he said.
But the bill, Gray said, is nothing new. On the other hand, the bill encodes what the administration of Mayor Brandon Scott and the Department of General Services have already taken measures to ensure that menstrual products are available in many public facilities of the city.
California requires menstrual products in public schools
Gray also said that Baltimore is not joining a national movement for menstrual equality, but is leading the load throughout the country.
If the bill was approved, all city -owned buildings and leased in Baltimore, Maryland, with public bathrooms would have to provide menstrual products for free, even in men's bathrooms. (Getty images)
“Cities and municipalities are recognizing the punctual importance of free access to menstrual products and Baltimore is proudly taking this place at the forefront of this critical effort,” he said.
Gray did not respond to the request for comments from Fox News Digital on the matter.
In February, Long Beach's unified school district in California took similar measures when it notified parents in an email that all schools containing degrees 3 to 12 would have menstrual products in girls' bathrooms, gender bathrooms and at least one boys bath.
Emerson College adds period products to the bathrooms for men, fulfilling the demand of the 'menstrual equal' group
The email told parents and caregivers that the system is “committed to reducing barriers to learning and promoting a support environment for all students.”
The availability of period products in girls' bathrooms and at least one boys bath is “making sure any student who menstruate, including transgender children and non -binary students, can access these necessary products with dignity and discretion,” according to email.
The Baltimore City Council proposed to put period products in bathrooms for men in all facilities administered by the city. (Istock)
In California, the “Menstrual Equality Law for all” was approved in October 2023, and ordered the changes to promulgate at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.
The following text was added to the State Educational Code when the bill was approved:
“At O Before the beginning of the 2024–25 school year, a public school, including a school operated by a school district, the County Education Office or the Autonomous School, maintaining any combination of classes of grades 3 to 12, inclusive, it will include the bathrooms of the school at all times with an adequate supply of menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, in all the rooms of the women, in all the rooms of the women.
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Menstrual products were defined in the invoice as pads and tampons specifically “for use in relation to the menstrual cycle.”
The bill also said that it is the intention of the state legislature “to promote the equity of the period through adequate access to menstrual products in schools that also serve from 3 to 5, inclusive.”
Elizabeth Pritchett of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
