This morning, five women filed a groundbreaking class-action suit to end the Tampon Tax in New York. The suit also seeks refunds for millions of women targeted by the illegal sales tax.

The five women are an actor/co-founder of Racket., a mathematician/data scientist, a programs coordinator for children’s programs, a photographer, and a professor.

New York exempts medical items from sales tax. But taxing authorities impose a double standard when defining medical items for women and men. Rogaine, foot powder, dandruff shampoo, chapstick, facial wash, adult diapers, and incontinence pads are not taxed. Tampons and sanitary pads are.

“It’s time for New York to stop taxing women for being women,” said Ilann M. Maazel, lead counsel, and a lawyer at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel. “We hope this case will be the beginning of the end of the Tampon Tax in this country.”

“Tampons and sanitary pads are a necessity for women, not a luxury. There is no way these products would be taxed if men had to use them,” said Zoe Salzman, another lawyer for the women.