Commission says woman had right to breast-feed in gym

[The Straight Story]

Commission says woman had right to breast-feed in gym


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A woman had a right to breast-feed her baby at a health club despite a manager's objections, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission has ruled.

Anna Swank filed a discrimination complaint last August against Lifestyle Family Fitness in nearby Reynoldsburg after a female manager told her that it was inappropriate for Swank to nurse her then-6-month-old son in the gym's child care room, according to the complaint.

The manager threatened to revoke Swank's privileges to use the child care service and she was told to go to a locker room, Swank said.

"I was in my workout clothes and was completely covered," said Swank, 33, of the Columbus suburb of Blacklick.

The state civil rights commission found probable cause that the health club discriminated against Swank, executive director G. Michael Payton said. The ruling means that enough evidence exists to document the claim.

A 2005 Ohio law gives legal protection to public breast-feeding and says nursing must be allowed in any place that accommodates the public.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OH_BREAST_FEEDING_DISCRIMINATION_OHOL-?SITE=WBNSTV&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Good. Breast feeding is a good thing and should be encouraged.

[moc]

2. She was told not to breastfeed in the CHILD CARE ROOM?!

:eyes:

Good grief. How stupid is that? It's not like she was bf'ing on the stairmaster or something.

[MADem]

4. On the TREADMILL, I could understand. But in the CHILD CARE room?

I agree, makes no sense!!

[lpbk2713]

5. *You can't fight in here. This is the War Room.*

.... but I digress. :eyes:

[Berry Cool]

3. What really kills me is that the manager who thought it "inappropriate"

was a woman.

It's bad enough when men tell women they can't breastfeed here or there, but when women do it...sheesh.