Lactose Tolerant: Doylestown reacts to law protecting public breast-feeding

[onedef92]

Doylestown reacts to law protecting public breast-feeding

Posted: Wed, Sep. 26, 2012, 3:01 AM

Allegra Avila likes to spend time in Doylestown's coffee shops and library with her 20-month-old daughter, Ora, but she feels anxious when it's time to breast-feed.

"Feeding in public is not an easy thing to do," the young mother says. "It's uncomfortable, wondering what people are thinking about you."

Now, thanks to a measure passed by the Borough Council, "I can nurse when the baby is hungry," Avila said Tuesday. "I will be able to relax."

The council voted, 6-3, Monday to amend its antidiscrimination law to protect a woman's right to breast-feed in public. The amendment provides a remedy if a woman is told to leave a store, restaurant, or park, or to move, such as to feed the baby in the restroom.

Supporters called the measure historic, with Doylestown becoming the second municipality in the state to provide a remedy for such discrimination. Opponents called it redundant to Pennsylvania's law and unnecessary, since there had been no recent complaints of discrimination.

Council President Det Ansinn said he proposed the amendment because he had heard talk of women "feeling uncomfortable" about breast-feeding in public.

Forty-five states have laws allowing public breast-feeding, with Pennsylvania's 2007 Freedom to Breastfeed Act one of the weakest because it lacks any remedy when there is discrimination, Jenkintown lawyer Jake Marcus said.

Under the amended law, a woman can file a complaint at Borough Hall, and Doylestown's human rights officer will talk to the named party, such as a shop owner or employee.

If there is no resolution, the officer will try to work it out with both sides. Otherwise, the officer will present findings of fact to the borough's volunteer Human Relations Commission.

Councilwoman Joan Doyle voted against the amendment.

"This affects local businesses. It makes it difficult for an owner to balance concern for customers with breast-feeding," she said.

Jona Franklin, owner of the Lilies of the Field women's clothing store on South Main Street, said she supported nursing but not the amended law.

The borough "is so quick to jump in and create a law," she said. "It puts the borough in a confrontation position with the merchants."

At Nonno's Italian Coffee Parlor on East State Street, barista and borough resident Federica Kaplan said women "should be able to breast-feed anywhere. It's a natural thing."

Outside a Starbucks at the center of town, Jim Philip disagreed.

"I wouldn't want to be sitting here with a woman feeding her baby at the breast," said Philip, 77, who has lived in the borough most of his life. "I guess I'm old-fashioned."

[Jobaka]

Kind of sad that we need a law to allow the most natural behavior in the world.

[C5Nate]

Kind of sad that we need a law to allow the most natural behavior in the world.

Diarrhea and coitus is just as natural, can’t think of a time that I want to see either while I am eating.

[G8rDMD]

Diarrhea and coitus is just as natural, can’t think of a time that I want to see either while I am eating.

I watch Two Girls, One Cup while eating dinner all the time...

[Kerrmudgeon]

A 20 month old??? A little old for boob feeding, no wonder she feels uncomfortable in public. Where do you draw the line? Would it be all right for a 6 year old to be sucking on the teat in public? :ack:

I figure if the kid can walk, that should be the cutoff. :yesnod:

[G8rDMD]

A 20 month old??? A little old for boob feeding, no wonder she feels uncomfortable in public. Where do you draw the line? Would it be all right for a 6 year old to be sucking on the teat in public? :ack:

I figure if the kid can walk, that should be the cutoff. :yesnod:

Which is exactly the opposite at the local pub... They cut you off when you can no longer walk :lol:

[polarbear]

And you wonder why we Left-Coaster's just shake our heads in wonder sometimes... :leaving:

[RED-85-Z51]

It sickens me, they allow gay marriage, they do away with public breast feeding, now they allow it again. Do away with it, a little formula now and then will not kill your baby.

Women act like formula is devil juice that will instantly kill their kid, shit, tons of kids only get formula. Or...*gasp* pump some milk and bring it wilth you if you know you may possibly be out for more than a couple hours.

Masturbation is natural, but if i whip out my dick and milk the ol trouser snake, im going to jail, and that my friends, is a ****ing travesty, and discrimination.

[Bucwheat]

My sister is a teacher in grade school,last year she taught first grade,she had one that was still in diapers at age 5 and one still breast feeding.Her mother would come to class and feed her in the hall.Is that not crazy.:leaving:

[LilRedCorvette]

I think the problem is the lack of discretion from *some* (not all) breast-feeding women.

If a bit of common sense and decency was used we wouldn't have a problem. I know it's completely different overseas...but we have to think about our own culture here...

A blanket/cover of some sort can be used. Breast pumps can be used. This isn't rocket science.

It's the ones that feel they need to 'make a statement' with doing otherwise that make me :spdchk:

FWIW, I'm a chick (a non-lactating one thank God!) and will likely always feel this way about the subject.

[NeedSpeed]

hmm, hard to tell, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't mind catching a peek

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/sw_coder/20120926_inq_sbreast26z-a.jpg

:D

[island14]

A 20 month old??? A little old for boob feeding, no wonder she feels uncomfortable in public. Where do you draw the line? Would it be all right for a 6 year old to be sucking on the teat in public? :ack:

I figure if the kid can walk, that should be the cutoff. :yesnod:



F'k that!


I still like boobs, hopefully they don't set an age limit on this :D

[Kerrmudgeon]

F'k that!


I still like boob milk, hopefully they don't set an age limit on this :D

Fixt it for ya! :D

[Jobaka]

Diarrhea and coitus is just as natural, can’t think of a time that I want to see either while I am eating.

You're equating breastfeeding with diarrhea? That's just wrong.



I think the problem is the lack of discretion from *some* (not all) breast-feeding women.

If a bit of common sense and decency was used we wouldn't have a problem. I know it's completely different overseas...but we have to think about our own culture here...

A blanket/cover of some sort can be used. Breast pumps can be used. This isn't rocket science.

It's the ones that feel they need to 'make a statement' with doing otherwise that make me :spdchk:

FWIW, I'm a chick (a non-lactating one thank God!) and will likely always feel this way about the subject.

This, IMHO, is a perfectly reasonable position on the issue.

[OddBall]

I think the problem is the lack of discretion from *some* (not all) breast-feeding women.

If a bit of common sense and decency was used we wouldn't have a problem. I know it's completely different overseas...but we have to think about our own culture here...

A blanket/cover of some sort can be used. Breast pumps can be used. This isn't rocket science.

It's the ones that feel they need to 'make a statement' with doing otherwise that make me :spdchk:

FWIW, I'm a chick (a non-lactating one thank God!) and will likely always feel this way about the subject.

That. Right there. If that was the norm, it wouldn't even be an issue.

[SnikPlosskin]

I for breasts.

In public.

I met a local woman running for political office and within 5 minutes she whipped out a boob.

I'm voting for her.

[C5Nate]

You're equating breastfeeding with diarrhea? That's just wrong.




Really?

THATS what you got out of that?




That. Right there. If that was the norm, it wouldn't even be an issue.



:iagree:


Unless she was hot with perky DD's.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

I think the problem is the lack of discretion from *some* (not all) breast-feeding women.

If a bit of common sense and decency was used we wouldn't have a problem. I know it's completely different overseas...but we have to think about our own culture here...

A blanket/cover of some sort can be used. Breast pumps can be used. This isn't rocket science.

It's the ones that feel they need to 'make a statement' with doing otherwise that make me :spdchk:

That's exactly the issue. It's the militant, activist women that don't know the meaning if the word discretion. Lack of common sense.

[RED-85-Z51]

its like the obvious homosexuals that, cant just be gay...like, quietly come out of the closet, and be gay...over there.

They have to come out and tell everyone that doesnt give 2 shits, they have to organize parades, have various flags and symbols to point out that they are gay, they have to make sure that everyone in a 3 mile radius, knows they are gay.

Then when someone gets fed up and says "Hey, go be gay over there, the straights dont want to see it"...they organize ralleys and shit to disrupt commerce in retalliation.

the problem is NOT breastfeeding, I know it can be done discreetly within feet of people and no one is the wiser, I also know that things dont always go as planned.

The problem is the mothers that just lift up their shirt and let their 3 year old feed in a restaurant, or on a plane, or that pull their top down and pull their breast out the top, let the small child/baby latch on, then put a blanket over, etc. they dont care who sees or who doesnt care to see.

ive seen women, in a conversation with someone across from them, maneuver things around subtly...never lose focus on the convo, and breast feed having shown no skin or any bits...thats awesome, its like watching the STIG take a lap in a sports car...hit every mark dead on, slick like warm butter.

i love breasts...but there is a time and a place, and breast feeding in public, aint it.

The attitude and mentality they have, when asked not to do it, is whats most annoying, more so than the act itself. "Ill do it, you can stop me, in fact ill have 50 friends come over just to spite you"...

[island14]

Most people forget what boobs are really for, and some make a stink over seeing one actually being used for its intent, and purpose.

It does not bother me a bit to see a baby getting fed with a proper milk dispenser.

Nor do I find it sexually attractive in any way..

Just my 02 :island14:

[Thud]

Or...*gasp* pump some milk and bring it wilth you if you know you may possibly be out for more than a couple hours.


Some women don't want to bring their breast pumps with them everywhere they go.... when their boobz are producing milk, they get very full and sore after 2-3 hours and they need "relief" and it doesn't matter if they brought milk from home.
If you wait too long you can risk an infection.
You can either breastfeed, or pump, but it's gotta get out somehow.

[NeedSpeed]

You can either breastfeed, or pump, but it's gotta get out somehow.

hmmm, must be a service to provide somewhere in here.

[Kerrmudgeon]

hmmm, must be a service to provide somewhere in here.

I can just see it now. Little booths at the local mall.......:boobies:

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4713542669239507&id=f71ff4f4230fc3eeedbec8cfe4f1a2cb

[RED-85-Z51]

Some women don't want to bring their breast pumps with them everywhere they go.... when their boobz are producing milk, they get very full and sore after 2-3 hours and they need "relief" and it doesn't matter if they brought milk from home.
If you wait too long you can risk an infection.
You can either breastfeed, or pump, but it's gotta get out somehow.

Thats part of the whole...you made the decision to get knocked up, you made the choice not to abort, you have made the decision to breast feed, now as a result of your string of choices, your udders need to be emptied on a regular basis...thats cool, oh..but its not convenient for you to go someone private and pump, or breast feed..you would much rather make people around you uncomfortable or inconvenienced.....right?

Ive made it a habit to empty my swollen bladder 3-4 times a day for most of my life...and as a result, sometimes I just gotta go, so instead of going on the sidewalk, or on the floor..or carrying around a urinal, I go someplace where I can properly relive myself without offending people. Hey, some people are cool with seeing people pee (****ing meat gazers), but alot of people tend to find it offensive. Its completely natural, everyone, im told, does it...so why is it not okay for me to bare my genitals in a non sexual way?

[xXBUDXx]

I can just see it now. Little booths at the local mall.......:boobies:

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4713542669239507&id=f71ff4f4230fc3eeedbec8cfe4f1a2cb

We will make millions! Where is my JC Whitney catalog??

[NavyC5]

Some women don't want to bring their breast pumps with them everywhere they go.... when their boobz are producing milk, they get very full and sore after 2-3 hours and they need "relief" and it doesn't matter if they brought milk from home.
If you wait too long you can risk an infection.
You can either breastfeed, or pump, but it's gotta get out somehow.

While you are correct, there is a difference between breast feeding and making a cause out of it. I've know many women that breast feed in public and you'd never know they were doing it. However, there seems to be a small, vocal part of the population that feels they have the right to do what they want regardless of those around them. If you want to be one of those people and want to put on a show while you're breatfeeding in public, don't be offended if I walk up, whip it out, and piss on the corner of the table you're eating at :seasix:

[RED-85-Z51]

I promise you, if the argument is, its natural, and non-sexual...if a mother is nursing, and I walked up and went for a slizzurp...ill bet it would be considered a sex crime or something.