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Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly are pushing a measure that would require schools to provide free menstruation products in both girls’ and boys’ bathrooms for grades 4 through 12.
Advocates of the proposal argue it would allow for transgender students who also menstruate to be able to access needed resources.
State Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), the chief sponsor of HB 156 , said her proposal would build upon existing law passed in 2017 that required all Illinois schools to provide free tampons and sanitary napkins in girls’ restrooms for grades 6 through 12.
In addition to extending the requirement to fourth and fifth grade and also mandating schools supply sanitary wipes, Hernandez said her proposal would stipulate that these products be placed in bathrooms and not an alternative location in the school, like the nurse’s office to offer students discretion.
Northwestern PERIOD rebranded as Northwestern Menstrual Equity Activists last fall, a change that corresponds with a move from college chapters across the country to disassociate from the national PERIOD organization.
Founder Nadya Okamoto was criticized in an article by activist Ileri Jaiyeoba and other activists on social media for not recognizing the work of grassroots organizers and menstruators of color.
Meghna Gaddam, president of MEA, said the change also represents a shift away from a corporate system with national oversight and instead emphasizes inclusive, grassroots organizing.
“Equity is all encompassing. It’s education, it’s access, it’s advocacy,” Gaddam said. “So we were super excited that our name represented more of what we wanted to do.”