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27 year old NYC resident, she/her

Writer's picture: theodora siegeltheodora siegel

Updated: Jun 20, 2022

"Last fall I scheduled a Covid vaccine at Walgreens (700 Columbus Ave). On the way to the appointment I started menstruating. When I showed up, I was notified that the appointments were running behind schedule, so I bought tampons and asked to use the bathroom: I was denied.


I repeatedly explained it was an emergency, and there was no way I could wait 30 minutes to an hour for a vaccine while bleeding through my clothes. I had to cancel my appointment and find a bathroom I could access. I found the nearest CVS and was once again rejected despite mentioning I was menstruating and showing the employees a box of tampons. It was a humiliating experience!


A local who witnessed the incident guided me to a Mexican restaurant that did not have public bathrooms, but when I asked to use the bathroom the employees could tell I was in distress and allowed me access. The worst part is that in the situation I could not go home on the subway or call an Uber, because I was afraid of bleeding on the seat and acquiring a fine or bleeding all down my legs and experiencing further humiliation.


I was shocked that both Walgreens and CVS would not allow me access especially when my whole reason for being at that particular Walgreens was a Covid vaccine in the middle of a public health crisis!"


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1 Comment


gel.yzabel
Jun 20, 2022

Its so messed up and real oppression that women bleed and there are no public bathrooms. They want us to stay home. They want us humiliated. I experience so much trouble being a menstruating person in Chicago. And what are the unhoused meant to do? This is what we mean by criminalizing poverty.

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