After being introduced on the senate floor in the previous week, ASUI passed legislation Wednesday bringing menstrual cups to campus and urging the state legislature to adopt language allowing for greater inclusivity and protection under state law.
The legislation urged changes at the state level targeted the definition of rape as well as the Idaho Civil Rights Act.
Menstrual cups
After being introduced in the previous week, ASUI voted unanimously to bring menstrual cups to the University of Idaho. The Menstrual Cup Distribution Project will bring 200 cups to be distributed throughout the semester, providing menstruating students with a sustainable and affordable product as well as the wider campus population with an opportunity to participate in educational programming that will be hosted by UI’s Women’s Center.
“As someone with a uterus, purchasing sanitary products every month can become quite expensive (especially when balancing) with groceries and other hygienic products that might be needed,” Sen. Kaiya Sanchez said. “Menstrual cups are reusable, lasting for years, and providing these resources greatly reduces the stress experienced by students on campus.”
Depending on the on-campus demand for the menstrual cups, Sen. Briana Navarro said that funds are anticipated to be available if the project were to be expanded beyond the 200 cups that have already been allocated.
Legislative terms
The prior week’s resolution asking the Idaho Legislature’s definition of rape to be changed to acknowledge that “females can rape, and men can be raped” similarly passed following a unanimous vote.
The push for more legislation centered on inclusivity continued in Wednesday’s meeting with a resolution urging the state legislature to amend the Idaho Civil Rights Act to add the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to its named protected classes.
The bill passed unanimously, with Sen. Kayla Nguyen highlighting the proposed changes as a necessity with just “36% of Idaho’s population protected from gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination” under the act’s current language.
A similar resolution was introduced Wednesday that targeted The Equal Rights Amendment of the Idaho Constitution, calling for an explicit affirmation within the amendment’s language that the state constitution applies to all sexes.
Sen. Martha Smith, who authored the resolution, said the resolution’s adoption by the Idaho Legislature would allow for the Idaho Constitution to both “explicitly protect women’s rights” and “solidify the equal application of the constitution.”
The resolution is expected to be put up for a vote in next week’s meeting.
Royce McCandless can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @roycemccandless