Advocates push for free period products in Mass. public building bathrooms

With legislation languishing on Beacon Hill to expand access to free menstrual products in public buildings, women advocacy groups say they have stepped up to distribute items in an attempt to tackle period poverty and financial barriers.

In the last seven months, the Massachusetts National Organization for Women has teamed up with other groups to dole out more than half a million period products throughout the state, operations and communications manager Kyla Speizer said.

"We don't expect anyone, whether they're employees, students or simply entering a public building to bring their own toilet paper. And menstrual products should be treated no differently," Speizer told the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight on Tuesday.

She testified in support of bills from Rep. Mindy Domb and Sen. Pat Jehlen that would require free disposable menstrual products — including sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners — to be available in bathrooms inside public buildings, as well as public institutions of higher education. The products must be available in "a convenient manner that does not stigmatize any persons seeking such products," according to the legislation.

The Senate unanimously passed a similar bill last session requiring free period products in schools, temporary housing facilities and correction facilities. It died in the House Ways and Means Committee.

"This is a practical and essential step toward gender equity in public health," Speizer said. "Our state's community colleges and public universities serve more than more than 225,000 students. Assuming that roughly half are menstruators, this policy could immediately benefit at least 112,000 residents across the commonwealth."

Jehlen, recognizing the public awareness efforts of Mass NOW and other advocates, acknowledged the growing number of free menstrual products in private businesses.

"This bill will make them available in all public buildings, so that everyone going into a restroom in any public space will be confident that their needs will be met," Jehlen said.

A dispenser in a State House public restroom on the first floor charges 50 cents for pads and tampons, though the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators has free supplies on hand on the fourth floor.