Oregon mom challenges law requiring schools put tampons in boy's bathrooms

An Oregon mom is taking on a state law that requires schools provide free tampons to students, including in boys' bathrooms.

Fox News reports that mother and Eagle Point School District board member Cherylene Stritenberg "petitioned the Oregon Department of Education to roll back the law, arguing it wastes school funding."

The free tampon on-demand program costs schools $5.6 million each year.

According to the New York Post, the Menstrual Dignity Act passed the Oregon legislature in August 2021. The law required schools at first to provide free tampons in "any two bathrooms of their choosing by the end of the 2021-2022 school year" but mandated that the menstrual product be placed in all bathrooms for both genders by 2023.

The school's push for more tampons in the boy's bathroom comes as access to the product has suffered due to President Biden's supply chain crisis.

Democratic state Representative Ricki Ruiz said, "As we know, there’s a lot of our youth who don’t identify as female or male or are transitioning genders. We wanted to respect that and make sure we provide these resources in all restrooms for folks who may be struggling to transition to a different restroom."

In May, a group of girls expressed concern over young male youth stating that they identify as transgender. The girls were worried these males could use the girl's bathroom to "cause rapes and assaults."

Stritenberg's petition stated it was a "misuse" of funds to pay to provide tampons in the boy's restroom. The Menstrual Dignity Act passed through the state legislature with significant bipartisan support in August of 2021.

In August 2021, another piece of law affecting Oregon schools went into place as Democratic Governor Kate Brown signed into law a mandate that allows students to graduate without proving they can read, write, or do math.