WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)-The city of West Lafayette is considering providing free menstrual products in the majority of city bathrooms. Two women council members are sponsoring the resolution, they say if the resolution is passed, West Lafayette will be setting a good example for the rest of the state.
"We have toilet paper and soap and paper towels and hand dryers but we don't have the other basic necessities that so many of us need,” said Kathy Parker District 5 City Councillor in West Lafayette. “So, it just makes sense.
According to 86 percent of U.S. women report that they've started their period unexpectedly in public without the supplies they need. West Lafayette council member Kathy Parker is one of two women on the city council sponsoring the resolution. She says that Purdue adopting a similar www.freethetampons.org resolution inspired her and council member Shannon Kang to propose a similar one for the city.
"We do take great efforts to welcome all people. I think it sets a good example for the rest of the state and maybe it will catch root,” added Parker.
The resolution says the City of West Lafayette would provide tampons and sanitary napkins as readily as it provides toilet paper, soap and paper towels in all city facilities. Mayor John Dennis says providing these products where they are needed, shows how welcoming the city is.
"When we talk about being accessible and we talk about serving everybody in our population there are certain private needs that need to be addressed as well,” said West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis. “That's most specific when you are talking about things that have to do with personal Hygiene.”
The mayor hopes people will understand that this resolution is necessary, and move in the right direction.
"Personal Hygiene is critically important to everybody and one thing the government does is it tries to provide services for everybody,” said Mayor Dennis. “This would just be another consistent step forward in the right direction thanks to Kathy and Shannon."
The resolution will be heard at Monday's city council meeting. To read the resolution click here.
