Fight WI "modesty" legislation!

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If you live in Wisconsin, please take action today!

Wisconsin Family Action is telling legislators to amend the Right to Breastfeed Act to include a “modesty amendment” requiring mothers in public to cover themselves with a blanket or a towel (and their babies, which is not safe). They are also proposing to require business and government buildings to spend millions of dollars, including taxpayer money, to build nursing rooms in their facilities.

This proposal is an insult to breastfeeding mothers everywhere and would give anyone from mall security to restaurant management the LEGAL authority to determine what is and what is not an acceptable degree of “modesty.” Your state representative and senators need to hear from you NOW. Call or send an email telling them to vote for Senate Bill 16, the Right to Breastfeeding Act AS IS, and tell them NOT to vote for a so-called modesty amendment.

I’m copying the link below where people can find out who their representatives are. We need to generate a lot of buzz in all offices at the Capitol so legislators hear the message loud and clear that a “modesty amendment” is NOT acceptable!

http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx

Please forward this message far and wide, and if you are a member of Wisconsin Family Action, please call them today to register your opposition to their position. Their contact information is included below.

Katie Prown
Legislative Chair, Wisconsin Guild of Midwives
Campaign Manager, The Big Push for Midwives 2009

Wisconsin Family Action
PO Box 1327 • Madison WI 53701-1327
608-268-5074 (local) • 866-849-2536 (toll-free)
608-256-3370 (fax)

http://wisconsinfamilyaction.org

[jeanine123]

Do you have a link to their press release or anything directly from Wisconsin Family Action stating this goal?

[meganmarie]

I clicked on the website link in the OPs post and found this:

http://wisconsinfamilyaction.org/mat...B16_021609.pdf

They do actually use the term "modesty amendment". How very...19th century of them.

[the_lissa]

Gross.

[meganmarie]

Okay wait, here's the most hilarious thing in their memo:

At the very least, we suggest that a modesty amendment be introduced for SB 16, requiring that the breastfeeding mother be discreet (e.g., use a blanket or a towel) in order to preserve modesty.4 Breastfeeding is a natural thing but that does not mean it has to take place in a public setting without any regard to discretion or modesty and with no regard for others, including children and young people, who may have no way to avoid the situation.

WFA unequivocally supports breastfeeding but respectfully requests that members of the State Legislature either stop this unnecessary “big brother” bill or provide a modesty amendment to SB 16.

They describe the law as a "big brother" bill - but they don't think its "big brother" for the government to pass a law requiring breastfeeding mothers to use a blanket? Are they listening to themselves?

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by meganmarie

They describe the law as a "big brother" bill - but they don't think its "big brother" for the government to pass a law requiring breastfeeding mothers to use a blanket? Are they listening to themselves?

lol...precisely what dh and I thought. After contacting my reps I also sent an email to the organization pointing out the irony. I'm interested to see what they say if I ever get a response back.

[Romana]

This is horrible! I hope it gets nowhere.

[purplepaperclip]

Unfrickinreal!

[Sagesgirl]

Originally Posted by meganmarie

They describe the law as a "big brother" bill - but they don't think its "big brother" for the government to pass a law requiring breastfeeding mothers to use a blanket? Are they listening to themselves?

No, they're not listening to themselves. I don't think anyone involved in politics on a regular basis ever listens to themselves. Kinda like how the judges are only activist when you don't agree with their decision.

I don't think they have the slightest clue of how to promote the family, either.

[jeanine123]

Originally Posted by meganmarie

I clicked on the website link in the OPs post and found this:

http://wisconsinfamilyaction.org/mat...B16_021609.pdf

They do actually use the term "modesty amendment". How very...19th century of them.

Thank you! I had started to poke around their site but didn't have time to really search it.

[julie128]

A way to get your legislators to listen to you would be to write a letter asking them to add an amendment that all babies must be fed with blankets on their head when they are in public. I don't want to have to see bottle feeding, and I really don't want my children to have to see bottle feeding, after all. Sheesh. When you put the focus on the fact that the baby/child is breastfeeding, not just the mother, it changes the whole story.

[purplestraws]

Wow, that just seems so incredibly ridiculous...are people even taking it seriously??

[elizaMM]

grrrr. that's the same organization that worked for BANNING civil unions (and gay marriage).

I went to the hearing for the Bill (w/o the ammendment) last Monday and I keep kicking myself for not staying up 10 more minutes the night before to prepare a statement. But I had NO idea who else would be there and what else people would be saying so I didn't even know where to begin-- basics, fine details, personal anecdotes...

All I know is, next time, I'm ready.

[laurdsed]

That's OK, ElizaMM! What's important is that you showed up and registered in support of the bill! It passed out of committee the next day with an unanimous vote.

AB 57 (the SB 16 companion bill for the Assembly) was read and sent to the Committee on Public Health yesterday. No date set yet for the hearing. We'll be there with bells on!

Laurel

[Tine]

Good lord. The stupidity of this proposal is multi-faceted.

Modesty legislation? Taliban, anyone? Sheesh.

If this horrific legislation passes, I'm afraid I will have to relactate just so I can drive over to Hudson and nurse my 3-year-old in public and break the law.

[laurdsed]

Just so you are clear, Tine. There is nothing in the current proposed bill that has a modesty clause in it. The bill is good AS IS.

The controversy surrounds a memo that was sent from a conservative organization called Wisconsin Family Action that asked legislators to either not support the bill or draft an amendment with a modesty clause added. That is what the call to action is about. Telling legislators that the bill is good AS IS.

Laurel

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by meganmarie

I clicked on the website link in the OPs post and found this:

http://wisconsinfamilyaction.org/mat...B16_021609.pdf

They do actually use the term "modesty amendment". How very...19th century of them.

Snippet from an email I sent them:

If we shame new mothers for being "immodest"...and they stop breastfeeding before the time intended by God, we should be ashamed of ourselves and ask forgiveness.

I realize that you may not believe in God yourselves, but please understand that many of us do and try to have more respect.

...The very fact that any one is uncomfortable with babies eating as they were intended to is proof that our society has been degraded.

I expect either a form letter or a rant in response.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by laurdsed

That's OK, ElizaMM! What's important is that you showed up and registered in support of the bill! It passed out of committee the next day with an unanimous vote.

::::

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by purplestraws

Wow, that just seems so incredibly ridiculous...are people even taking it seriously??

No kidding. And these people are elected officials???? Maybe they need to be un-elected. :

[Love_My_Babies]

Originally Posted by julie128

A way to get your legislators to listen to you would be to write a letter asking them to add an amendment that all babies must be fed with blankets on their head when they are in public. I don't want to have to see bottle feeding, and I really don't want my children to have to see bottle feeding, after all. Sheesh. When you put the focus on the fact that the baby/child is breastfeeding, not just the mother, it changes the whole story.

The other day, my 4 yo saw a baby being fed a bottle. With wide eyes, he whispered, "Mom, that baby is drinking from a bottle!" He was so shocked to see it. So, I had to explain to him that some babies get milk from a bottle. He was disgusted.

I wrote a letter, and I copied it in the WI tribal thread.