Posted on 10/09/2009 6:46:08 AM PDT by Huck
Yesterday, Emily Gillette filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont, setting the stage for a legal battle, according to the Burlington Free Press.
Three years ago, Gillette, her husband, Brad, and their then 22-month-old daughter, River, were ordered to leave a plane at Vermont's Burlington International Airport. It was a New York-bound Delta Connections flight operated by Freedom Airlines.
Gillette was nursing River when a flight attendant asked her to cover up. Gillette refused. The flight attendant asked again, offering a blanket. The then 27-year-old mother continued to refuse. The flight attendant "pointed to the exit and demanded: 'Just get off the plane,'" the court documents read.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Why?
You have no idea. There are women, and I've unfortunately seen them, that just let there breasts hang out. We had a woman in the neighborhood who did this (nursing a four year old). The kid would run over, pull her shirt up to her neck, suck for 20 seconds and then run off. The woman would continue, shirt up the entire time at the park running an open bar.
Peeing is natural, but I'm going out on a limb here and assuming that you would have an issue with a man that just whips it out at the park and starts peeing, and would not feel that you should have to accept it and just avert your eyes.
Mom of 5 here, breasted each of them (and NOT until anywhere close to the age of 2), and I would never EVER breastfeed in public so that perfect strangers would consider it a problem. Yes, if baby had to eat, I’d nurse wherever we were but NEVER up in someone’s face to scream, “I’M BREASTFEEDING! I’M BREASTFEEDING!”
Honestly, this woman is a NUT. Here she is suing 3 years after the fact because she can’t flash her boob in public, but I’ll bet you she’s the first one to be offended if someone was to wear a skirt that was too short or a shirt that showed too much cleavage.
From the article:
The incident got national attention—especially in November 2006 when a group of 25 moms showed up at the Burlington Airport, openly breast-feeding their babies and holding up signs reading “Best in-flight meal ever” and “Breasts—Not just for selling cars anymore.” Similar protests were held at airports in Boston; Las Vegas; Columbus, Ohio; Nashville; Harrisburg, Pa.; Hartford, Conn.; Albuquerque; and Louisville, according to USA Today.
Sounds like breast-feeding activism. She’s the Rosa Parks of lactation.
It is ok to use the word breast. Why is two to old?
Like going to the bathroom and having sex. This issue of waving the boobs around is just a power trip.
I don’t have any problem with the word breast, or funbag, or mammary, or whatever you want. “Whip it out” is a figure of speech. Whip the breast out just doesn’t have the same zing.
But in this case, a verdict cannot be rendered due to insufficient evidence.
Since 9-11 they're on a power trip that's not to be believed. Quite a number of them believe that they're some kind of pseudo-cop with a beverage cart.
"Everything behind the cockpit belongs to ME and I demand 100% compliance with all my orders." That was her attitude AND the attitude of nearly all of her co-workers I met.
Now this will no doubt be sorted out in the Courts but to tell you the truth I won't be sorry to see a Stewardess, pardon me, "flight attendant" get slapped down a peg or two.
L
Well, the real problem with the attendant was that, apparantly, the law is not on her side. In the article, it cites breastfeeding demonstrations at the airport, so they probably should have known better. We weren’t there, so we don’t know the demeanor of the attendant, or the mom. She asked twice, perhaps nicely. Offered a blanket. That all seems reasonable to me, even though, as I say, the law apparantly makes no requirements about modesty. Apparantly she could take her shirt off if she wanted, judging from the statute.
In most States breastfeeding is a legally protected activity. That’s the difference.”
Is there not an expectation of some level of modesty on the part of the breastfeeding mother?
I agree that breastfeeding is ‘natural’, but I certainly don’t expect to pay for an airline seat and have a boob hanging out in the aisle seat.
She was politely asked to cover up her chest and she refused.
I hope the judge throws this out and gives her a tonguelashing at the same time.
You may be right. I haven’t flown in years. It looks like in Vermont, there’s nothing that says she has to cover up. She might have been able to take her shirt off, judging from the statute. They held demonstrations about breastfeeding at airports. I personally think this was a setup. The airline needed to know the law, and their attendants needed a clear policy on it. Looks like the bitch mom is gonna win. I understand your bias against stewardesses. This is probably a case of bitch vs bitch.
“That said, . . .Modesty for me, respect for those around me.”
Your grace and consideration is truly rare and deeply appreciated.
Just to muddy the mix. FEDERAL law requires passengers OBEY crew member instructions. Airline flights are interstate trade. FEDERAL law likely has jurisdiction.
IMHO.
I posted the Vermont statute. There’s nothing in it about modesty or covering up. It appears she could take her shirt off, judging from the statute. This IS Vermont we’re talking about.
Interesting.
“Stop and watch....lick your lips.....they will cover up real quick...
My wife hates it when I do it...but it ALLWAYS works...
I once asked a woman sitting with her man in the middle of the food court at the mall....”since you got one out..can I see the other?”
Wow. If someone said that to my wife, I definitely would not have laughed.
I love your approach. I just wish more people had the nerve to do something like that.
Legally protected, maybe. But, in this instance, it seems like a reasonable request for the mother to observe some degree of propriety and decorum in the confined space in which this took place. Just seems to be common sense...
But, common sense is in pretty short supply these days.
“What’s a 2 year old kid...”
If they are old enough to ask for it... They are too old to have it...
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