Boy Scouts of America shame woman for breastfeeding at a meeting
Jasmine Millar has three kids – all of which she’s breastfed, despite physical struggles to do so. Recently, while attending a Boy Scouts of America meeting with all three kids, she was asked to cover up while breastfeeding as it was called inappropriate and offensive to the other parents at the meeting.
“I was using the 2 shirt method which covers the top and bottom of the breast. I was towards the back of the room with all scouts in front of me,” she explains to Facebook group, Breastfeeding Mama Talk who posted her story.
After the meeting, she was approached and told that what she was doing wasn’t appropriate.
ALSO SEE: Woman asked to leave toddler gym class for breastfeeding
“I was told I needed to leave or cover completely with a blanket from now on. This was our 3rd troop and the first time anyone has ever had issues with me breastfeeding. I was so shocked and embarrassed. I felt outnumbered and bullied. I ended up leaving in tears and continued to cry the remainder of the night.“
After the incident, Millar contacted her local city councilor and was advised that she was well within her legal rights to breastfeed at the meeting. A follow up phone call confirmed this. But then she received a letter from the Vance Lackey, Director of Field Services at Boy Scouts of America that shocked her.
In the letter, Lackey agrees that Millar was within her rights to nurse at the meeting but explained that “there are those in your son’s Troop who are uncomfortable.”
“When you choose to nurse your baby uncovered and/or in the same room as the Scouts, it causes disruption. Some young boys do not fully understand about breast-feeding and have families who may not be ready to have this discussion and some Scouts and/or families are simply uncomfortable with public breast-feeding.”
He then goes on to ask her for a “compromise,” suggesting she wear a cover or step into another room.
“All families and volunteers in attendance have one main purpose of the meeting, which is to provide a positive Scouting experience to young boys. Perhaps this concession to those with different views can get this unit back on track. Parents respecting one another’s personal boundaries is a good lesson for boys to observe.”
ALSO SEE: Breastfeeding mom accused of ‘molesting’ her baby in text message
Millar explains that she was shocked by the letter.
“I couldn’t believe what I had just read. Did they really just side with the very same people who shamed me?”
She decided to share her story with Breastfeeding Mama Talk in hopes that others will rally with her to prevent incidents like this from happening to other mothers.
“They made me feel so small and I refuse to take this abuse and be bullied into hiding. All I wanted was my rights to be respected and an apology, & for them to educate their staff and volunteers,” she says.
ALSO SEE: This Powerful Photo Series Celebrates Working Mums Who Breastfeed
Since posting her story to Facebook, it was picked up by local news, attracting the attention of Larry Brown at the Middle Tennessee Council. He admitted in a interview with Forbes that Millar deserves an apology.
“I saw the letter before it went out, and I didn’t really think about it, but I went back and looked at the letter, and in looking at the letter candidly, it does isolate her,” Brown says. “It almost sounded like we were taking the leader’s side in the letter, and that’s not what it was meant to be.”
Brown hopes to work with Millar towards a solution with her local chapter.
“Really, at the end of the day, it’s an issue with the local unit, and I want to get a good resolution with our volunteers and with her and try to get everybody to where they are okay with things and then move on, serve kids and focus on the program,” Brown said.
What do you think of Millar’s story? Do you think the Boy Scouts of America response was fair? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.
UPDATE 8/6/16: Larry Brown from The Middle Tennessee Council BSA has since reached out to Jasmine Millar expressing the council’s sincere apologies and support for her and all breastfeeding mothers.
"There is no question, Boy Scouts of America understand and respect your rights to breastfeed your child,” the letter reads. “Scouting members are always encouraged to treat all people with dignity and respect. Moving forward, we will reinforce to our adult volunteers they need to accommodate breastfeeding mothers. Once again, please accept my heartfelt apology.”
