A video of a tampon dispenser in a male bathroom reportedly at Western Carolina University has gone viral. The 14-second video shows the female product dispenser accompanied with a note that says this was paid for using student fees.
According to Fox News, the said the machine was part of a pilot program funded by the Division of Student Affairs. The video which has gone viral was first posted on Twitter Wednesday by the Libs of TikTok and captioned, "Western Carolina University utilizes student fees to fund tampons in the men’s bathrooms.” A spokesperson for the university told the media that he is yet to review the matter.
The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) said in a statement that while menstrual products are not always provided in women’s restrooms, these are almost never available in men’s restrooms even for pay. Furthermore, the group added, "Men’s restrooms are also less likely to have a place to dispose of these products conveniently, privately, and hygienically."
In 2019, ACLU called for the inclusion of tampons in mens’ restrooms as a means to prevent discrimination against “every person who menstruates.” The group argued that the menstrual stigma and period poverty can also be hard on the trans and non-binary. In its effort to push for its agenda, the left-leaning group set up a legislative toolkit to advocate for the regulation of menstrual products in public restrooms as well as public schools and shelters.
"Menstrual equity is a basic equity issue," the report read. "Just as we have regulated the provision of toilet paper and paper towels in public restrooms, so too should we do the same for menstrual products."
They also urged advocates to work with leaders and agencies to tap into budgets to ensure the ease of access for these menstrual products in public transportation hubs, libraries, and food pantries. The said Menstrual Equity toolkit provides an overview of key arguments that include legislative and policy language whereby one can use this as reference for responses to common arguments on issues such as the end of the tampon tax.
