SINE DIE HARD: The good and the bad during an ugly Legislative session
"From guns to needles to empty freight trains, Colorado’s 2019 legislative session has been, like so many others before it, a spellbinding morass. Here are a few of the most important, controversial and peculiar new laws to make it out of the Gold Dome this year, many with direct Aurora ties." "Colorado lawmakers delivered many of newly minted Gov. Jared Polis’ first-term priorities, but minority Republicans also claimed some victories by the last day of the session, especial
Viral speech details how women have to barter for tampons in Colorado jails because period products
"A Colorado state representative has garnered viral attention online for a speech about the need for period products in jails as the lawmakers appear poised to increase the number of free tampons and pads available to inmates." "Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat, grabbed the attention of viral video site “Now This” last week. The accompanying video had been viewed about 150,000 times as of Monday morning." “Yes, a lot of people don’t want to talk about it,” Herod said in t
Colorado House approves bill to provide tampons, pads to women in jail
“Women’s bodies are different,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, who sponsored the bill. “We need to ensure that we are treating all women, especially those that are in custody, with the respect and dignity that they deserve.” "Two years ago, legislators approved funds in the Department of Corrections budget to give women tampons in state prisons, but it took an activist spending time in a county jail to get this new bill on the table." "In February, anti-jail activist Elisa
House unanimously approves bill providing free tampons to jail inmates in Colorado
"A bill sponsored by state Rep. Leslie Herod of Denver mandating all local jails provide menstrual hygiene products on Wednesday received unanimous support in the House and now heads to the Senate for further consideration." "A release from Colorado House Democrats on Wednesday said the House approved HB19-1224 by a 65-0 vote. Herod’s efforts are linked in part to advocate Elisabeth Epps, who told Denverite last month she wasn’t able to get tampons when she needed them after
Colorado’s prisons offer free tampons to female inmates. The state’s jails might soon be required to
“The most concerning piece about not having tampons and other menstruation products provided in confinement are manyfold,” said state Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat who is leading the push for the measure. “… Women (in prison) were actually having to barter with tampons because they became a commodity. In corrections, if you restrict the use of something — or access to something — it tends to have a monetary value almost.” "Herod said she found that the need was so grea
House OKs bill requiring free tampons at Colorado jails
"In 2017, Herod secured a budget amendment to cover the cost for women in state facilities, estimating at the time it would cost $40,000 out of the Department of Corrections’ $28 million budget." "She said Tuesday the Department of Corrections has reported no issues with providing the products." “I can only imagine what it must be like for a women to be denied access to feminine hygiene products that she needs, because she can’t afford to pay for them,” Herod said." “Even fur
Tampons are already free for inmates in Colorado state prisons, but a new bill would make them free
"In February, anti-jail activist Elisabeth Epps spent 16 nights in the Arapahoe County Jail after being convicted of interfering with police. She had her period on the first day." “It was 10 days before I got a feminine hygiene product," Epps told 9NEWS in February while serving her work-release sentence. "So I feel like even men understand the math. That’s too late.” "When State Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver) heard Epps was required to order tampons through commissary, and the
The Politics of Menstruation
More than 18 million American women are living in poverty as of 2014; 40 percent of America’s 565,000 homeless people are women; and as of 2017,219,000 American women are incarcerated. That’s a lot of women struggling to afford and access feminine hygiene products. Additionally, girls are missing school because of their periods, and women on SNAP benefits are skipping meals to pay the “luxury” sales tax on tampons. This inaccessibility has consequences even more far-reaching
