Posted on 11/15/2006 6:38:55 PM PST by Mr. Brightside
Nursing mom says plane kicked her off
Wed Nov 15, 1:22 PM ET
BURLINGTON, Vt. - A woman who claims she was kicked off an airplane because she was breast-feeding her baby has filed a complaint against two airlines, her attorney said.
Emily Gillette, 27, of Santa Fe, N.M., filed the complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission late last week against Delta Air Lines and Freedom Airlines, said her attorney, Elizabeth Boepple. Freedom was operating the Delta flight between Burlington and New York City.
Gillette said she was discreetly breast-feeding her 22-month-old daughter on Oct. 13 as their flight prepared to leave Burlington International Airport. She said she was seated by the window in the next-to-last row, her husband was seated between her and the aisle and no part of her breast was showing.
A flight attendant tried to hand her a blanket and told her to cover up, Gillette said. She declined, telling the flight attendant she had a legal right to breast-feed her baby.
Moments later, a Delta ticket agent approached and said the flight attendant had asked that the family be removed from the flight, Gillette said. She said she didn't want to make a scene and complied.
"It embarrassed me. That was my first reaction, which is a weird reaction for doing something so good for a child," Gillette said Monday.
A Freedom spokesman said Gillette was asked to leave the flight after she declined the blanket.
"A breast-feeding mother is perfectly acceptable on an aircraft, providing she is feeding the child in a discreet way," that doesn't bother others, said Paul Skellon, spokesman for Phoenix-based Freedom. "She was asked to use a blanket just to provide a little more discretion, she was given a blanket, and she refused to use it, and that's all I know."
A complaint against two airlines was filed with the Vermont Human Rights Commission, although Executive Director Robert Appel said he was barred by state law from confirming the complaint. He said state law allows a mother to breast-feed in public.
The Vermont Human Rights Commission investigates complaints and determines whether discrimination may have occurred. The parties to a complaint are given six months to reach a settlement. If none is reached, the commission then decides whether to go to court. A complainant can file a separate suit in state court at any time.
that's what nursing pumps are for
What YOU said!
I can't believe the crap I read on the threads.
Freaking LOL! "
Somebody had to do it:)
Oh grow up.
I don't care how long the woman wants to nurse he baby but she was causing a disturbance and probably intentional.
If she was being discreet, no one would have noticed or said a word.
There is a thing caused modesty that most people have forgotten.
I saw a woman at Atlanta airport traveling with a toddler. She was sitting crossed legged on the floor, wearing a tee shirt and lifted the tee shirt and had both breast exposed and then looked around the area to see if anyone was going to say something. No one did and eventually she did take a diaper and cover the other breast. Not till she was sure everyone had seen it.
You are the one who criticized for doing so.
Thought you might be interested in knowing, just heard on the news, the flight attended was reprimanded for his/her stance on this.
Just goes to show, never mess with a nursing mom. Not sure I totally agree with the mom, if you're offending someone and are asked to cover up, you should at least try. On the other hand, good likelihood only the flight attendent could see it because he/she was up and walking around. I can see both sides of this.
Yes. There was a thread on the flight attendant getting 'reprimanded.' Lots of discussion there.
I am still interested in finding out if the flight attendant was a man or a woman.
___________________________________________________________________
Breast-feeding case leads to punishment (of flight attendant)
On News/Activism 11/18/2006 9:22:21 AM EST · 428 replies · 4,902+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1740773/posts
"I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed Dolly Parton was my mother and I was a bottle baby."..... Rodney Dangerfield
Better than being run over by an SUV.
Oh, I didn't see this. Thanks!
Elizabeth Boepple, a lawyer hired by Gillette, 27,
******
Vermont Refuses to Punish Pedaphiles
With an 82% rise in sex crimes in Vermont, you would think that Judge Edward Cashman would, at the very least, have given convicted pedaphile hard time or life imprisonment, instead of 60 days probation.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company thought it would be a cute idea to market a new bear that people might want to give to their loved one for Valentine's Day and named it the "Crazy for You" bear.
The manufacturer of a teddy bear intended to be a Valentine's Day gift is accused of being heartless and insensitive to people with mental illness.
On January 28 Robert Appel, executive director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, weighed in on the controversy. He accused the company of an "apparent lack of understanding.. .of the real hurt and emotional turmoil" that continued marketing of the bear would cause those with psychiatric disorders.
http://tinyurl.com/yhlr9t
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.