I came across this article on my natural mothering board and it incensed me! When are we going to understand that the feeding a child is not indecent! I respect the right that woman has to not cover up because I understand that if I needed to breastfeed in public my child will not tolerate being covered up while feeding. She just won't let me cover her. We had to battle to be successful at breast feeding and I would not let what anyone said stop me from feeding my child if I needed to. 
:1.) If you don't like to see it - DON'T LOOK! (She was in a corner booth surrounded by family.)
2.) Indecent is women wearing outfits that reveal her body in a sexually explicit manor... showing the outline of nipples and revealing areas which should be covered by underwear- for the express reason of drawing sexual attention to themselves.
3.) There is a positive view of human sexuality that is healthy to teach all children about and that is that it is natural to breastfeed in humans just as it is in kittens and puppies and cows and pigs, etc.... They need to learn that there is such a thing as healthy sexuality from other adults; Lord knows that we have given them enough negative examples of human sexuality. Let's stand up for a positive one!
Please read this article and pass it along to whomever you think may be interested. We need to contact our local political institutions as well as our federal representatives. Breastfeeding a child in public is not a lewd expression of the human body. It is healthy, natural, and an inalienable right as a mammal!
Ok, I'm off my soapbox now, thanks for listening.
--
~Gin & Co.
-wife to Rob 6/22/02
-mother to Lauryl-Ashton Renee' 6/8/94
-Sean Douglas 5/24/04
-Victoria Paige-Marie 4/1/07
+3 cats
- !!!OMG!!! I'm a single mom of 7 !!!!
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Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; September 1, 2007 -
PUBLIC PROTESTS APPLEBEE'S RESTAURANTS NATIONWIDE
(press release)-
Breastfeeding supporters will gather on Saturday, September 8, 2007,
at 12:00 pm at Applebee's Restaurants across the country to protest
the treatment of Brooke Ryan and her 7 month old child.
Allegedly, on June 14th, while Ms. Ryan was breastfeeding her baby
discreetly in a corner booth during an anniversary dinner with her
family, an Applebee's Manager asked her to cover her baby with a
blanket. Ms. Ryan responded by citing the Kentucky law that states
that "no person shall interfere with a woman breastfeeding her
child". Ms. Ryan then produced a copy of the statute that she had
received from the Kentucky Health Department, an organization that
encourages women to keep a copy with them for situations such as the
one she was experiencing. The manager, after reviewing a copy of the
statute continued to insist that she had to "cover the baby with a
blanket" if she wanted to breastfeed there, and that nursing her
child was "indecent". The family left the restaurant before being
served their meal, Ms. Ryan and baby in tears.
Shortly following the incident, Ms. Ryan retained the services of a
lawyer who contacted Thomas and King, the company that owns and
operates the Lexington Applebee's location. Nearly 2 months later,
the company responded with a letter stating "we are considering
keeping blankets in the restaurants for use by breastfeeding mothers
that may not have them readily available," with the intent that
mothers will be forced to put them over their babies.
Breastfeeding supporters have decided to conduct a public protest at
the store location, as well as locations nationwide. It will occur on
Saturday, September 8, 2007, at noon. When Senator Tom Buford, (Rep.,
KY), who spearheaded the passage of the Kentucky public breastfeeding
law was told of the planned protest at the store in Lexington, KY, he
said, "Let me know the date and I will come by and support you", and
also made a suggestion of an appropriate sign for the event: "small
children are not allowed to eat in this restaurant."
Even though there is a patchwork of strong and weak state laws aimed
at protecting a woman's right to nurse her baby, the mistreatment Ms.
Ryan encountered is far too common. Most women who nurse their babies
will at some time be forced to feel the shameful sting of
discrimination. Usually this burden is carried by a woman in secrecy,
due to fear of further anguish to her family. Some women choose to
bring their stories to the public in an effort to educate and bring
about a positive change. Earlier this year, a Pennsylvania woman was
threatened with arrest if she did not stop breastfeeding her child at
her local mall. Last November, a mother in Vermont was kicked off of
a Delta flight for not covering up while breastfeeding her child. The
Delta incident resulted in over 800 participants protesting the
discrimination by conducting "nurse-ins" at Delta counters in over 40
cities across the US.
"Because most public breastfeeding laws do not provide a clear remedy
for women who are harassed or discriminated against," said Salem
Hamilton, Executive Director of Birth Without Boundaries,
International, "we are asking for breastfeeding supporters across the
country to encourage their legislators to add enforcement provisions
to their state's laws that would provide the protection women and
babies need".
On Wednesday, August 31, 2007, the official corporate response as
given by Mr. Alex Bressette, Applebee's corporate office's
International Guest Relations Manager, is as follows: "Applebee's and
its franchisees love having families dine together at our
restaurants. We believe that this francihisee made a reasonable and
lawful request of this guest in order to promote a pleasant and
comfortable experience for all of its guests."
In the spirit of the existing diversity and inclusion policy
published by Applebee's Restaurants, Birth Without Boundaries, Intl.
is asking the corporation to adopt and implement an official
breastfeeding friendly policy. As a breastfeeding mother, Ms. Ryan is
doing the best for her child by giving him the optimum nutrition
possible. According to UNICEF, if infants worldwide were fed only
mother's milk for their first six months, at least 1.3 million lives
a year would be saved.
The September 8, 2007 event is sponsored by Birth Without Boundaries,
International; a Pennsylvania based non profit organization committed
to eliminating restrictions placed on birthing mothers and their
babies.
Inquiries may be directed to birthwithoutboundaries.com
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