The Vermont Human Rights Commission ruled today that Freedom Airlines discriminated against nursing mother Emily Gillette when a flight attendant asked Gillette to cover up while breastfeeding and had her removed from the flight when she refused to do so. The parties now have a six-month period in which to attempt to negotiate a settlement. If a settlement is not reached, the Commission could file a civil suit against Freedom Airlines. Gillette’s lawyer Beth Boepple has been quoted as saying:
What the Human Rights Commission does with it and how they decide to fashion a remedy once we get past …read more

Nearly a year and a half after Emily Gillette was removed from a Delta/Freedom Airlines flight for refusing to cover up while breastfeeding, the Vermont Human Rights Commission will hear the case. According to the Burlington Free Press, the Commission will review the findings of its investigator, who found reasonable grounds that Freedom discriminated against Gillette. The hearing is set to take place on Thursday, March 27, 2008, and it is closed to the public. While Gillette said she is not required to attend, she traveled to Vermont anyway.
I feel really grateful, still, for the way the state’s set up. …read more

Almost five months after nearly 900 people participated in nurse-ins at 40 airports across the country in support of Emily Gillette (the New Mexico mother who was kicked off an airplane for breastfeeding her toddler), Ms. Gillette’s case is starting to undergo investigation. Rebecca Robinson of the Bennington Banner reports that last Thursday the Vermont Human Rights Commission denied a motion by Delta and Freedom Airlines to dismiss the complaint against them.
Ms. Gillette refused to cover up while breastfeeding her 22-month-old son as they sat on a plane waiting for take-off from Burlington Airport in Vermont. Vermont state law specifically protects breastfeeding in …read more