Michigan City to Require Free Menstrual Products in Public Restrooms

A student of the "Girl Up" club stocks a school bathroom with free pads and tampons to push for menstrual equity

Michigan city becomes the first US city to require menstrual products in all public bathrooms

EKO HOT BLOG reports that a new Ann Arbor, Michigan policy compels all public restrooms to supply free sanitary products such as pads and tampons to customers – the city is considered to be the first in the country to do so.

The new regulation, which goes into effect on January 1, 2022, applies to all public bathrooms covered by the plumbing code, not only municipal facilities, and is gender-neutral.

“Access to menstrual products is a fundamental human necessity,” said Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor. “It’s a matter of public health and personal dignity. And it’s something that should be provided to everyone.”

The legislation, which was overwhelmingly approved by Ann Arbor City Council on Nov. 15, also requires the provision of additional sanitary supplies such as toilet paper, soap, paper towels, and water.

Other cities have similar policies that only apply to municipal buildings or schools, but none have been as comprehensive.

Taylor said he was inspired to offer the proposal when a teenage Ann Arbor citizen approached him with the notion.

“A high school student came to me to express her concern that persons without established residences had difficulty obtaining menstrual products,” he said. “And that got me to thinking over time, there have been some advances with respect to schools, particularly in Illinois and New York in government buildings. California has got one as well. And I asked staff to look and see whether we could obligate at all public restrooms in Ann Arbor provide the supplies because they’re basic and fundamental for people.

He noted that many stakeholders and organizations throughout the city supported the move before the vote.

“People without established residences live their daily life just like all of us, they have the same bodily necessities as all of us, and their access to supplies that many of us don’t give a second thought to is difficult,” Taylor said. “And so the provision of basic sanitation supplies in all public restrooms in Arbor will be, for them, an important life improving measure.”

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Ify Davies