In Australia the legislation is framed around the mother's right to be free
from discrimination on the basis of her sex (gender) and parenting
responsibilities.  Since breastfeeding is understood as an expression of
being a female parent and it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of a
person being female (or a parent), it is illegal to discriminate against a
woman who is breastfeeding.
There is no legal prohibition on discrimination against infants (or
children) so it would be difficult to frame new law that operated on that
basis here.  (Children are not allowed in many licensed venues, not allowed
to drive cars, compelled to attend school - or be subject to approval for
home schooling.) I am not familiar with US legislation (and I understand
that the state/federal relationships differ significantly from ours) so I
don't know whether you would have the same problem there.
Cheers
Nina

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Winnie Mading
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 7:04 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: public attitudes

Lee G. wrote:
"their fine can be as high as $40,000?  We could
certainly use that in the USA and elsewhere.  That would make a lot of
people sit up and take notice that they are violating the civil rights of
children when they interfere with their feeding in public and that there are
serious consequences to such actions."

Unfortuantely, as long as it is exporessed as the mother's right to nurse
her infant anywhere they happen to be, I don't think we will get far.  We
have to concentrate on the BABY's right to eat whenever and wherever the
need arises or we will continue to hear comoplaints about "pushy",
"extremist", "exhibitionist" women!  If it was all about the mom, she could
wait or cowtow to other's insensitivities.  But babies have no sense of time
and when they need, they need now and here, not according to someone else';s
wishes.

Winnie Mading IBCLC, LLLL, RN, MOM etc.


             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set
lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome