mathbabe

Well folks, as I announced yesterday, I became a lead plaintiff on the New York State tampon-tax case. The press conference was fun, and the best part was posing with the products themselves and looking serious:

Things are progressing fast, too: Governor Cuomo has said the following through a spokesperson: “We agree that sales tax on these products should be repealed and will work with the legislature to do so.”

I hope it’s soon, because according to my Twitter feed there are a whole bunch of people who are willing to protest the ongoing tax by free bleeding on the subway, which could get mighty sticky come July.

I kid. But not really. One thing I’ve figured out through all this is that the squeamishness alone – exhibited mostly by men – is a large part of why the unfair tax exists in the first place. It’s like, if we don’t think about it, it won’t exist.

To be honest the tax thing is great, and it’s progress, but I’d be unsatisfied if we stopped there. If men had periods, I’ve always said, then tampons would be free; or at least as free as toilet paper. Instead, I’ve spent countless hours and dollars desperately locating a tampon in the middle of a conference or workday, because there are very few bathrooms that bother to supply these cheap little wads of cotton balls. What gives?

Fuck this. Let’s not stop until they are freely accessible, especially to poor women, and especially especially to homeless women. Right now you can’t even purchase them (or pads) with food stamps. They are somehow considered unnecessary and/or non-medical, even though they directly concern blood.

Which brings me back to the free bleeding on the subway plan. It’s starting to sound a bit more like a viable thing.