Designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey.

SJR102

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 102

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates May 17 of each year as �Menstrual
Empowerment Day� in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating May 17 of each year
as �Menstrual Empowerment Day� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

Poor menstrual hygiene caused by deficient education on this issue,
persisting social stigma surrounding menstruation, limited access to feminine
hygiene products, and poor sanitation infrastructure undermine the
opportunities, health, and overall social status of women and girls around the
world; and

Whereas,

Consequently, millions of women and girls are kept from reaching their full
potential; and

Whereas,

May 17, 1912 is the birthday of Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner; and

Whereas,

Kenner, an inventor who holds the most patents of any Black woman, was born in
Monroe, North Carolina to inventor Sidney Nathaniel Davidson and a mother who
is unknown to the public record; and

Whereas,

Kenner earned her first patent in 1957 for the sanitary belt, an invention that
aimed to prevent menstrual blood from leaking onto clothing, which was a common
problem for women at the time; and

Whereas,

The Sonn-Nap-Pack Company contacted Kenner intending to market her sanitary
belt, but when they learned that she was Black, they declined; and

Whereas,

Beltless pads were invented in the 1970s and women stopped using sanitary
belts; and

Whereas,

Sadly, Kenner has never truly been recognized for her contributions to
menstrual empowerment either during her lifetime or even after she passed away;
and

Whereas,

It is appropriate that New Jersey honor Kenner and her birthday by designating
May 17 of each year as �Menstrual Empowerment Day�; and

Whereas,

Also celebrated in May of each year, �World Menstrual Hygiene Day� is a global
advocacy platform that aims to: �promote good menstrual health and hygiene for
all women and girls; change negative social stigma around menstrual health and
hygiene; and engage decision-makers to increase the political priority and
advocate for menstrual health and hygiene at global, national and local levels;
and

Whereas,

The vision of this platform is to create, by 2030, a world where no woman or
girl is held back because she menstruates; and

Whereas,

This means a world in which: every woman and girl is empowered to manage her
menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence and without shame; every
woman can access and afford the menstrual product of their choice; period
stigma is eliminated; every person (including men and boys) has basic
information about menstruation; and every person can access period-friendly
water, sanitation and hygiene facilities worldwide; and

Whereas,

In order to end period poverty and stigma by 2030, significantly more
investment in menstrual health and hygiene is necessary, as well as collective
action by people and entities at the local, state, and global levels; and

Whereas,

It is important that the State of New Jersey join in this collective action by
designating a special day to celebrate menstrual empowerment; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� May 17 of each year is
designated as �Menstrual Empowerment Day� in New Jersey.

�

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation and call upon public
officials, private organizations, and all citizens of this State to observe
�Menstrual Empowerment Day� with appropriate awareness activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
designates May 17 of each year as �Menstrual Empowerment Day� in New Jersey.

���� Poor menstrual hygiene
undermines the opportunities, health, and overall social status of millions of
women and girls around the world, often preventing them from reaching their
full potential.� It is the sponsor�s intent that designating an annual �Menstrual
Empowerment Day� will help recognize and promote efforts taking place at the
local, State, and global levels to promote good menstrual hygiene, ensure
equitable access to feminine hygiene products, end period poverty, and
eliminate stigmas associated with menstruation.� Designating May 17 as
�Menstrual Empowerment Day� will also help celebrate the achievements of Mary
Beatrice Davidson Kenner, an inventor who pioneered a useful menstrual hygiene
product that was overlooked solely because Ms. Kenner was Black.� Mary Beatrice
Davidson Kenner�s birthday was May 17, and so designating the day as �Menstrual
Empowerment Day� will afford her a measure of long-deferred but richly deserved
recognition.

���� This resolution calls on the
Governor to annually issue a proclamation and call upon public officials,
private organizations, and all citizens of New Jersey to observe �Menstrual
Empowerment Day� with appropriate awareness activities and programs.