<p>To the Mississippi Department of Revenue and the Alabama Department of Revenue,</p><p>I am writing to you today to bring attention to discriminatory taxation currently being practiced by your respective states.</p><p>As you are no doubt aware, the United States exempts certain products determined to be "necessities" from taxation. This includes items like sunscreen, Rogaine, and anti-dandruff shampoo which don't seem exactly necessary for daily life. But one class of items is currently taxed despite the fact that millions of women depend on them everyday: feminine hygiene products.</p><p>In your states, pads, tampons, and menstrual cups are currently taxable, leading to an unfair tax on all menstruating women. These items are not optional, so why aren't they exempt from tax?</p><p>Adding insult to injury is the fact that due to the wage gap, women make approximately 79 cents for every dollar a male colleague earns for the same work. Not only are women being taxed for essential hygiene products, they have less money to spend than their male counterparts.</p><p>As the two states currently tied for last in their dedication to women's rights and welfare, Mississippi and Alabama both have a long way to go to improve the quality of life of women living within your states. Making feminine hygiene products would be a small but significant step to improving your abysmal records.</p><p>Please, do the right thing for women in your state. This discriminatory taxation must end!</p><p>Sincerely,</p>