THE RAG: Issue 4
Your weekly flow of any news headlines, surrounding periods.
Nevada Eliminates the “Tampon Tax”
This Tuesday, voters in the 2018 midterm election approved State Question №2, meaning that, in Nevada, menstrual products are exempt from the state’s 6.85 percent sales tax. The Food and Drug Administration regulates tampons as medical devices; other medical devices, like bandages, are exempt from Nevada sales tax.
Taxing the products placed an unfair financial burden on women, who are already at a financial disadvantage due to the gender wage gap: “Feminine hygiene products are primarily bought for women and the sales tax on what are medically necessary devices disproportionately affects women,” Cancela told Marketplace. “And I think removing a tax like that from our tax code is important in moving towards equality.
Gina Rodriguez Advocates to End Period Poverty
Gina Rodriguez uses her social media platform to bring attention to “Period Poverty,” especially after learning that 1 in 5 American girls misses school due to a lack of period protection.
Rodriguez has teamed up with Always for their #EndPeriodPoverty campaign.
Last night, she announced on instagram that they have donated 15 million period products across North America to girls in need. She captioned her post, “…Let’s continue to spread the word in helping #EndPeriodPoverty so access to period products never stands in the way of a girl and her education.”
Students at Missouri University Advocate for Menstrual Equity
Last month, many members of MU’s PERIOD Chapter held signs in downtown Columbia for people to donate money to PERIOD, a nonprofit organization that provides menstrual products to those in need. MU’s PERIOD chapter leaders have created a space for people to donate menstrual products at the MU Student Center.
In addition, members of the MU PERIOD chapter work in partnerships with organizations such as Tiger Pantry, which offers food assistance and free toiletries to MU students or employees in need. Through PERIOD Chapter’s partnership, Tiger Pantry clients can pick up free menstrual products that were collected through donation drives.
In Missouri, menstrual products are NOT exempt from the state sales tax. As a result, members of the MU PERIOD chapter are advocating for public policy change to create menstrual equity.
Petition to End the “Tampon Tax” in Ohio
Ohio State University’s PERIOD chapter is petitioning to end the sales tax on menstrual products!
Here is our petition: https://www.change.org/p/governor-of-ohio-end-the-tampon-tax-in-ohio
Menstruators, who are primarily women, are forced to take on the unjust financial burden of the state’s 5.75 percent sales tax on menstrual products. However, menstrual products are a necessity, not a luxury!
Help us create change towards gender equality. Sign this petition to help Ohio join the Menstrual Movement along with New York, Washington D.C., Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, and Nevada.
