Legislation Proposed to Protect a Woman's Right to Breastfeed in Public

Two Wisconsin state legislators have proposed a bill that will allow mothers the right to breastfeed their children in any public place. The bill was introduced into the State senate Thursday at the Capitol.

State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, and Rep. Sheldon Wasserman, D-Milwaukee, authored "The Right to Breastfeed Act" after being contacted by a supporting constituent who had a negative experience while breastfeeding in public.

"[The constituent] was breastfeeding in a shopping center

Many people believe that women who wish to breastfeed in public should use discretion and use more private areas, like a restroom, to feed their babies. Some feel it is lewd behavior. "Lewd behavior", by definition, exempts women who breastfeed, but there are no statues to protect such women. Co-author Wasserman stated, "Babies deserve the best nutrition they can get, anytime or anywhere they want it.''

This law, should the bill pass, will protect a mother's right to feed her infant anywhere, and will include punishment for those who choose to harass or discriminate against that right. "If a person was harassing a woman who was breastfeeding, she now - if this bill passes - would have a legal right to complain and that individual would be arrested and fined," Risser said. If found in violation of this law, the punishment would be a $200 fine.

"I checked into this situation and found a number of other states that already have access to such legislation, and it seemed to me that it was a reasonable bill," Risser said. This bill is modeled after legislation that has been passed in 30 other states.

This is not the first attempt by Risser to introduce such a bill. He proposed the same bill last year but it died in committee.

Currently, Risser serves as President of the Senate and has the opportunity to have this bill heard.

The right to breastfeed in public has been a very hot topic as of late. In the state of Wisconsin, Racine resident, Carrie Richmond, agrees with the new legislation. She believes it is a non-issue and that it is very natural for a mother to feed her child anywhere. Last year, Richmond protested about restricting public breastfeeding. The protest took place with 20 other women and children in July 2006 after a woman was told to feed her baby in the bathroom of a Victoria Secret store.

In November, nurse-ins were held across the country at airports in support of a woman who was asked to leave the plane after she declined to cover up while nursing her daughter.