Tampon tax protest rallies menstruation activists in Dallas
In 38 states, tampons are subject to value-adding taxes because they aren’t considered health necessities for women. On Sunday, protesters will gather around Dallas City Hall in disapproval of the tax, hoping to join states such as California and New York in removing it in the state of Texas.
October 18, 2019
Tomorrow at Dallas City Hall for National Period Day, members of the menstrual movement call upon state legislation to address the taxation on sanitary products as luxury goods and for clean and healthy period products to be freely accessible in schools, shelters and prisons.
The event is sponsored by PERIOD, a non-profit organization that strives to eliminate period poverty and stigma through advocacy, education and service.
“The creator of PERIOD, Nadya Okamoto struggled with poverty in her early life, learning the hard way that access to menstrual care products is one of the greatest barriers to low income individuals,” PERIOD Denton president Mari Austin said.
PERIOD hosts product drives, fundraisers and workshops along with events such as this rally in which the organization hopes not only to address sanitary product availability and taxation, but also to remove the stigma around periods.
“Menstruation occurs every month for an average of 40 years to half of the world’s population. The tampon tax severely limits accessibility for menstrual products. One in four women struggle to afford these products,” Austin said. “It’s also a matter of dignity. No one deserves to have to walk around with blood stained pants.”
Other sponsors include She Supply, Let Her Learn, Girls in STEM, Girl Up North Texas Coalition, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Red (.) Project, Holding Hands and SMU Period Project.
PERIOD also hopes to end what they consider a double standard in medical products.
“Taxing menstrual care products as luxury goods is wrong on its own, but what’s more is the majority of male used products such as Rogaine and Viagra are considered medical necessities and are tax exempt,” Austin said. “The average menstruator will spend $11,000 on tampons alone in their lifetime and the tax equivalent of that is about $1,000. Menstruators are disproportionately affected by this tax, seeing as our male counterparts don’t have to spend $11,000 on sanitary products.”
The event will take place from 2-4 p.m.
“Our periods should not be the government’s tax revenue,” Austin said. “I hope to see people come out and learn about why this truly matters.”
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