Denver council takes the 'feminine' out of menstrual care products

Photo byEmma MorganonUnsplash

The Denver City Council voted Monday to change the language in its tax code referencing menstrual care products.

The language currently refers to “feminine hygiene products” being tax exempt. The new language is “menstrual hygiene products.”

City Council member Paul Kashmann sponsored the ordinance changing the language. During a committee meeting on the issue, he noted that some people who do not identify as feminine still menstruate. “There are a whole lot of folks who need menstrual hygiene products who don’t identify as feminine,” Kashmann told his council committee colleagues, who voted unanimously for the change.

In the comments of past articles about the issue, readers expressed anger over the change, saying the council has more important things to tend to.

Committee unanimously approves change

The Finance and Governance Committee unanimously approved the change. No residents asked any questions or made comments during a public hearing. Council member Darrell Watson, who is a member of the LGBT community, applauded Kashmann for recognizing the broad range of modern-day genders. “I just want to say thank you.”

During a presentation to the committee, Kashmann noted that former council member Jolon Clark sponsored the legislation that excluded menstrual hygiene products from sales tax. Kashmann explained that Generation Z is far more likely to describe their gender across a spectrum than Generation X or Baby Boomers before them. He noted that LGBT people suffer discrimination. He said a study by Kantar Consulting in 2017 showed discrimination occurs on social media, with 40% of LGBT people reporting it; at work or school, with 33% experiencing discrimination; 32% reported discrimination while shopping and 24% said it occurred when applying for a job.

Canada places menstrual products in men’s restrooms

Kashmann explained what other cities have done around menstrual products. New York state adopted an ordinance like Kashmann proposes, while Canada requires menstrual products to be provided in all restrooms, regardless of gender, in federally regulated workplaces. The country also uses gender neutral language to refer to menstrual products.