Democrats in the Minnesota House are pushing to pass a bill that would require the availability of menstruation products in all boys’ school restrooms across the state.
“A school district or charter school must provide students access to menstrual products at no charge. The products must be available in restrooms used by students in grades 4 to 12,” the bill states. “For purposes of this section, “menstrual products” means pads, tampons, or other similar products used in connection with the menstrual cycle.”
The bill also proposes to increase operating capital aid to fund school district purchases of menstrual products.
“…to pay the costs of supplies and equipment necessary to provide access to menstrual products at no charge to students in restrooms and as otherwise needed in school facilities,” the bill states.
An amendment was presented by Republican Grove City Representative Dean Urdahl to make it clear that menstrual products must be available in restrooms used by female students, Alpha News reported.
“This is just about practicality. I believe that these products should be most available to those that would use them, girls. This amendment makes that more likely,” Urdahl said during the committee hearing
Bill sponsor Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton) urged the committee to vote no on the amendment claiming that “not all students who menstruate are female.”
“First, there are a lot of schools that are moving towards gender-neutral bathrooms, and if we add “female,” we might become obsolete very quickly,” Feist said.
“Second, not all students who menstruate are female. We need to make sure that all students have access to these products,” she continued.
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The newly proposed legislation has been received with criticism online.
One user commented, “of all the issues plaguing our education system, menstrual product availability in the boys’ bathrooms is what they’re discussing. Males do not menstruate. It’s a fact. Why are we allowing these folks in any leadership positions?”
Another said, “I’m really not understanding where and how a person who wasn’t born with a vagina would use menstrual products and why a person who was born with a vagina would be in the boys bathroom? identify how you want but let’s not bs biology, boys don’t have menstrual cycles, never will.”
“Somehow, radical MN legislators continue to act more and more confused over what a woman is. The science is clear: only women can menstruate. It’s really not that hard, even my 5-year-old brother knows the difference between a boy and a girl,” one user commented.
Both Oregon and Illinois have passed legislation mandating the availability of menstruation products in males’ restrooms.
