As a transgender man I know that many on my friends list won't want to see this but unfortunately it needs to be addressed, I don't want to even write this but, knowing that things like this are still classed as a 'luxury' item, is both disgusting and very worrying. Razors aren't taxed, condoms aren't taxed, but my uterus is? Not only are tampons/pads necessary for hygiene and health, they're not only used by women, but by young girls from anywhere above 11, even younger in some cases, by trans men, who have to deal with the dysphoria of buying the products in the first place (for people who want to know what this means, I am 16 years old and I still have to ask my own mother to buy me items due to the sheer panic attacks I get at the thought of buying them myself), of non-binary people who just happen to have a menstrual cycle. What are we teaching these people by labeling a necessity as luxury. The VAT of feminine hygiene products sits at 5%, higher than other unnecessary items. What are we telling the women, the girls and the trans men of this age when we look at this number: £18,450. This is how much the average person (with a period) will spend on sanitary products, £922 of this is VAT. How can we expect someone living below the breadline to afford this?
Tampons, towels, they aren't unnecessary luxury items, they keep us safe, clean, they let us enjoy ourselves without having to worry constantly. And still. These items are taxed.
My younger sisters, my cousins, my friends, myself even, we will have to pay £922 in our lifetime in tax for something that is very much necessary. It may be the lowest in the EU, but we want it lower, we NEED it lower. I need to keep myself clean and healthy before I shave my legs thank you.
-facebook guy who looks alri
