Oregon law puts tampons in boys’ public school bathrooms, and more students into private schools

Oregon’s “Menstrual Dignity Act,” which will put tampons in even boys’ bathrooms this fall, is just one part of a “radical leftist agenda” that’s fueling an exodus from public schools, one gubernatorial candidate says.

“They’re in shock. They’re in disbelief. They’re angry,” Republican candidate Bridget Barton says of the state’s parents in a Fox News interview. “They are exiting the schools as fast as they possibly can, and Oregon has literally run out of room in private schools, charter schools and other options for kids that want to get out.”

Oregon’s Menstrual Dignity Act, signed into law last year, will require all public schools to provide feminine products in every school restroom, boys’ and girls’ alike. 

In March, the Oregon Department of Education released a Menstrual Dignity for Students Toolkit, which affirms fluid gender identity concepts. The toolkit emphasizes “four pillars of menstrual dignity,” one of which is “inclusivity.”

“Inclusivity means including, affirming, and honoring differences in how communities learn about, access, and make decisions about health,” the document reads. “This means that transgender, intersex, non-binary, and two spirit students need to be affirmed in their access to products.”

The Menstrual Dignity Act is designed to help students with limited access to these products, but critics say the inclusion of boys’ restrooms is a step too far.

“Radical leftist woke policies are destroying Oregon, from our streets to our businesses to our schools,” Barton said. “But as a mom, a new grandmother and a Republican candidate for Oregon governor, I can’t believe we’re even discussing this. Clearly [Gov. Kate] Brown cares more about what’s going on in the bathrooms than what’s going on in the classrooms.”

The law is set to go into effect for the 2022-2023 school year, but schools are getting a head start in installing dispensers – as evidenced by a tweet from Portland Public Schools:

“Starting next year (2022-2023), products will be available in all restrooms (male, female and all-gender) in every PPS building where education occurs. To ensure timely compliance, PPS ordered 500 dispensers. Dispensers have been installed in all elementary and middle school girls’ restrooms, and more will be installed in all remaining bathrooms, including boys’ restrooms, next year. Instructions for how to use tampons and pads will be posted in all bathrooms.”

The Libs of TikTok Twitter account posted the statement, as well as a video purportedly showing a dispenser already installed in a boys’ bathroom.