Bill Would Protect Breast-Feeding In Public Two House Democrats Seeking Facilities, Protection For Women

Like any business lobbyist, Lisa Thatcher has few minutes to spare when the Legislature is in session. Among her chores: finding a private place to express and store breast milk to bring home for her infant daughter.

She is among a legion of women who wish American society was more accommodating to breast-feeding. And now, two House Democrats have stepped forward to try to make it happen.

They are pushing legislation to ban discrimination against women who breast-feed their babies in public, and to encourage businesses to provide facilities for mothers to breast-feed or to express and store milk for later use.

Rep. Jeralita Costa, D-Marysville, is drafting a bill that would:

Make clear that breast-feeding in public cannot be considered indecent exposure under the law. “I know of no cases where breast-feeding mothers have been convicted of indecent exposure, but they have been threatened by people who say they’re breaking the law when they breast-feed in public,” Costa said Thursday. “We need to make the law clear. Breast-feeding is not indecent exposure.”

Provide that women have a right to breast-feed in any public or private place, including at work, and allow for a civil fine of up to $1,000 to be assessed any person found to have violated the right.

Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, filed a measure Thursday, HB1194, that would:

Reward businesses that provided facilities and flexible schedules for employees to breast-feed their babies or express and store breast milk.

Businesses that met those conditions would be certified by the state Department of Health as “baby friendly,” and could use the designation in promoting their businesses.

Costa said her measure, which is similar to laws on the books in 12 other states, has provoked an out-pouring of emotional telephone calls.

“My phone has been ringing off the hook from women calling to share their experiences. Many of them have pledged their support and have offered to provide testimony to the House Law and Justice Committee when this bill is scheduled for a hearing,” she said.

Costa said women are fed up with a society that considers female breasts primarily sexual and somehow indecent.

“It may come as a surprise, but breasts were created to feed babies,” she said. “When was the last time cow udders were considered sexual?” she added with a laugh.

She said woman have been heckled, harassed, shamed and even kicked out of public places for feeding their babies.

“We may not be able to prevent some people from feeling uncomfortable, even embarrassed” at the sight of breast-feeding. But “we must prevent the harassment and discrimination that women face when they practice a very natural, healthy and legal activity.”

Thatcher agrees.

“Luckily for me, Eileen Cody is letting me use her office and refrigerator to express and store my milk,” she said.

“I’ve tried doing it in the bathrooms,” but that’s neither private nor sanitary, she said, and there are no power outlets for her electric breast pump.