Shamers, step aside! Breastfeeding in public is now TOTALLY LEGAL in all 50 US states
There have been multiple incidents of women being shamed for breastfeeding in public in the US over the last few years. However, that may soon change as the United States law is now on the mothers’ side. Women in all the 50 states in the country can now legally breastfeed in public.
Idaho and Utah have become the latest American states to legalize breastfeeding in public. There were, however, some lawmakers which showed resistance to the ruling. Republican Rep. Curt Webb of Utah, during a hearing, said that he was uncomfortable with the lack of cover-up, which could lead to immodesty, according to reports.
Webb, while talking to the Salt Lake Tribune, said: “This seems to say you don’t have to cover up at all. I’m not comfortable with that, I’m just not. It’s really in your face.”
The language of the bill was changed and a statement about woman’s breast being uncovered was removed and the altered bill simply stated that women are permitted to “breastfeed in any place of public accommodation.”
The initial language of the bill was: “A woman may breastfeed in any place of public accommodation… irrespective of whether the woman’s breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast-feeding.”
Idaho reportedly had tried to pass the legislation protecting women breastfeeding in public nearly 15 years ago. However, the legislative proposal was shot down at the time by male legislators who feared that women would “whip it out and do it anywhere,” according to the Idaho Statesman.
Reports state that Idaho was the last state in the country to hold out on the bill as its sponsor Republican Rep. Paul Amador said that it was shameful that breastfeeding mothers were not offered any protection in this age. Amador was a father of a five-month-old son when he introduced the bill proposal in the state.
“Personally, I find it disappointing that we’re in 2018 and we still haven’t passed this law in Idaho. I think we can take a proactive stance here through legislation to promote the natural bond and health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child. I also believe the health and nutritional choices of our families are best left as decisions for our families, not our government,” Rep. Paul Amador said.
Recently, celebrities like Chrissy Teigen have been promoting breastfeeding by posting pictures while in the act on social media.
Reports state that the United States was one of the few countries until now which did not have sufficient laws to protect nursing mothers. Countries like Australia and the United Kingdom already have such laws in place.
