Hi, Folks:  This mother wrote to me and has given me permission to post
her situation to Lactnet.  I am already drafting some choice words to the
appropriate people, and she will be contacting Dr. Jack and Dr.
Katherine D, but I thought they could use a few more responses - 
how about 2,000 or so?  ;) 
Before you go to the column by Jeff Harder, be sure you've taken your
blood pressure meds.

Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 14:36:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Julia Goforth <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: YMCA

> In Dec. 1998 the General Manager of the Niagara Falls YMCA told me I
> would have to leave my children's play-program area (gymnasium) to
> nurse them.  During the program time, in the program area,  other
> parents are allowed to feed and nurture their children, but I am not.
> While I do not condemn other parents for choosing to artificially feed
> their children, I am appalled that I am being forced to "hide" to
> naturally feed mine.  
> 
> Aside from the humiliation of being segregated due to my children's
> form of nutrition, I am outraged that in this age of enlightenment I
> am having to face gender discrimination.  As only a woman can
> breastfeed her children, this has become not merely a breastfeeding
> issue, but a human rights issue.  
> 
> After obtaining legal counsel, I wrote Mr. McLaughlin telling him what
> I had been advised to do. The letter is as follows:
> 
> Dear Mr. McLaughlin:
> 
> On December 1, 1998 you approached me at the end of my children's
> Wiggle Giggle Fun program and requested that I nurse my children in a
> different area of the building.  I would like to bring to your
> attention that this action is classified as discrimination on the
> basis of sex and therefore has violated my human rights as outlined by
> the following documents:
> 
>      Ontario Human Rights Code
>      Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms
>      Charter of the United Nations
>      Universal Declaration of Human Rights
> 
> It  also violated my children's rights as outlined in the United
> Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and opposes the YMCA's
> Mission Statement and Core Values.
> 
> I have been advised by my legal counsel to do the following:
> 
>      *Report the incident to the Ontario Human Rights Commission
> (where an award   may entitle me to receive monetary compensation for
> damages).
>      *Contact women's rights organizations.
>      *Contact Infant Feeding Action Coalition (INFACT) Canada, Le
> Leche League,  and other related organizations.
>       *Contact local media for this to become a news story.
>       *Contact local councilors, MP, and MPP.
>       *Contact the local health unit.
>       *Write letters to the YMCA's director and the chairman of the
> Board of Directors.
>       *Sue the YMCA in small claims court for discrimination on the
> basis of sex.    (Previous cases in Canada have resulted in the
> breastfeeding mother being  awarded sums of $2500.)
> 
> As I wish to continue to enjoy the relationship I currently have with
> the YMCA, I would prefer to resolve this matter outside the court
> system.  I would find satisfaction in:
> 
>        *A written apology.
>        *The YMCA adopting a clear and specific policy recognizing the
> right to   breastfeed a child in public, regardless of age.
>        *The YMCA providing inservices to make the public more aware
> and more comfortable with breastfeeding in public and why it should be
> supported.  (Usually people are uncomfortable or embarrassed with
> public breastfeeding due to a lack of knowledge and exposure.)
>          *A 2 year membership for my 3 children, their father, and
> myself (approximate   value $2200) beginning January 1, 1999.
> 
> Please let me know if the arrangement I have proposed is agreeable or
> if I should proceed as I have been advised.  Thank you for your prompt
> attention to this matter.
> ----
Although the mother e-mailed the full response from the YMCA general
manager, I don't know if I have the legal right to print his response on
Lactnet without *his* permission, so I will paraphrase and include a few
quotations:

Essentially, he did not address her issues nor offered any apology, just
made some bland statement about how the YMCA supports breastfeeding but
that in making his request he was merely "concerned with ensuring that
you could breast feed in a place that would allow for increased dignity
and privacy for you and your child." [Yeah, right!]

He then went on about how his mission is to enhance everyone's experience,
respecting "diversity." He talked about some of the members feeling
"uncomfortable with breast feeding done in public before themselves and
their children."  This discomfort was believed to lessen "the quality of 
their experience at the YMCA and potentially could create discomfort for
you."

> Here's a letter to the Editor that ran in the Niagara Falls Review
> concerning this incident:
> 
> On Tuesday, December 1, 1998 an incident occurred at the Niagara Falls
> YMCA which I would like to call to your attention:  
> 
> My children and I are members of the YMCA and we enjoy  participating
> in the programs offered.  During the program "Wiggle Giggle Fun," which
> is designed for children who are walking and up to 3 years of age, the
> General Manager of the facility, Joe McLaughlin, asked that I not
> breastfeed my children during the class.   
> 
> According to their own literature, the YMCA of Niagara Falls' mission
> is to "offer people opportunities for growth and service to others."
> Under the heading "Core Values"  it states "The YMCA of Niagara Falls
> believes:  in the values that Christianity shares with other faiths in
> our community such as fairness, caring for neighbor and community and
> ethical behavior.  in the worth of individuals that both celebrate their
> differences and recognizes their interdependence.  that each person has
> a responsibility for both personal development and community service.
> In equality of opportunity of all age, gender, creed, ability or
> economic circumstances.  in promoting it's independence and viability. 
> 
> By asking me to remove my children from their program and relocate to
> a different part of the facility to let them nurse, the YMCA has
> violated their own core values and mission statement.
> 
> Sending us away is not "caring for neighbor and community;" in fact is
> quite damaging to my children's, and my, emotional well being as well as
> to the health of the community in
> general.  Insisting that I "hide" to nurture and feed my children
> gives the impression that there is something wrong or obscene about it.
> This is emotionally damaging. 
> Breastfeeding my children means they are receiving ideal nourishment,
> protected from most illnesses due to the antibodies found only in
> breastmilk, and are in optimum health. 
> It also means that I am reducing my risk of breast cancer, ovarian
> cancer, and osteoporosis.  I wonder how much money my family is saving
> the taxpayers of Ontario simply by breastfeeding?  Imagine the reduction
> in childhood illnesses and the relief on the
> healthcare system if every mother breastfed her children.  
> ----
> A columnist wrote about it as well.  This ran in the Toronto Sun
> last Friday:  
> 
> http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSPolitics/harder.html
> 
> Jeff Harder,  Canoe.com columnist
>     411 Richmond St. East, Suite 307 
>     Toronto, ON, Canada
>     M5A 3S5 
>     Phone: (416) 947-2154 
>     FAX: (416) 947-2209 
> Editor:  <[log in to unmask]>
> -----
> The contact info for the YMCA is:
> Joe McLaughlin
> c/o Niagara Falls YMCA
> 4261  Fourth Ave.
> Niagara Falls, ON
> Canada  L2E 4N1
> fax (905)356-8501
> ------