Breastfeeding 1-2-3 » Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Rally Official

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:48:06 +0000

Senator Connie Williams invites nursing mothers and other breastfeeding advocates to join her on the state capitol steps on Monday, May 7, 2007, to celebrate Mother’s Day and to show support for three pieces of breastfeeding legislation (PDF) the senator has introduced in Pennsylvania. Here are the details:

Monday, May 7, 2007
1 p.m.
Main Rotunda
State Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

For more information contact Angela Fitterer at afitterer@pasenate.com or 717-705-6339 or online at www.senatorconniewilliams.com.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Pennsylvania Nursing Rally Planned

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 13:16:04 +0000

Pennsylvania Senator Connie Williams is hoping to organize a nursing rally on the steps of the state capitol building in support of breastfeeding legislation the senator has introduced. If the measure goes before and passes through the Senate Judiciary Committee in April, a rally may be held on Monday, May 7 or Tuesday, May 8, 2007 to tie in with Mother’s Day on May 13. Keep those dates open and keep an eye on the MotheringDotCommune lactivism message board or join the Birth Without Boundaries Yahoo group or the NIPinPA Yahoo group.

Nearly 200 people attended the recent Berkshire Mall nurse-in and an even larger turnout would be needed to fill up those huge capitol building steps. A good impression will provide support for Senate Bill 34 and the other two breastfeeding bills introduced by Senator Williams (PDF).

Thanks to Colleen at MyBabyandMore for the tip!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Pennsylvania Ready for Breastfeeding Legislation after Berkshire Mall Nurse-In Success

Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 21:38:35 +0000

Good news on the breastfeeding front in Pennsylvania. State senator Connie Williams has introduced legislation that would establish the Right to Breast-feed Act. If enacted as written, Senate Bill 34 would protect the right of a mother to nurse her child in public, prohibit a unit of local government from adopting an ordinance prohibiting breastfeeding in public, and provide that breastfeeding may not be considered a nuisance, indecent exposure, sexual conduct or obscenity.

That legislation is sure to receive a boost from yesterday’s nurse-in at the Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Nearly 200 people turned out to support nursing mother Leigh Bellini after she was harassed by mall security for breastfeeding in the mall’s center court. The nurse-in received excellent news coverage across the nation. You can read articles covering the story from the local paper the Reading Eagle, KNBC in Los Angeles, CA, CBS 3 in Philadelphia, PA and watch video coverage from WFMZ in Allentown, PA. While Pennsylvania state law does not explicitly address breastfeeding, one of the articles mentions that local legislation is currently being introduced in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to protect the right of women to breastfeed in public.

Pennsylvania mothers who want to do more to support breastfeeding can contact the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition or the very active group Birth Without Boundaries. Birth Without Boundaries has established “a legislative alert e-list — for anyone interested in working together specifically on issues relating to breastfeeding including the legal protection of mothers’ and childrens’ rights to breastfeed wherever and whenever they want to, cases of breastfeeding discrimination in employment, child care and other contexts, and increasing breastfeeding friendly health care practices.” To join the e-list, click here.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3