*** UPDATE – Here is another view of the story from Best for Babes: http://www.bestforbabes.org/dad-stands-up-to-boy-scouts-of-america-to-defend-breastfeeding-wife-and-baby ***

********UPDATE #2 (09/04/2012): Response from Boy Scouts Buckeye Council: https://unlatched.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/response-from-boy-scouts-buckeye-council-re-committee-chair-voted-off-for-breastfeeding/

I am shocked and saddened to be bringing you this story! An Alliance, Ohio woman, Tess, and her husband, were verbally attacked at a Boy Scout committee meeting where she and her husband were then voted out of the Boy Scouts because she breastfed her son. She was the committee chair and her husband was a Wolf Pack leader and they were amazing at their jobs.

At the end of their meeting, it was obvious there was another issue people wanted to discuss…

That was when my treasurer stood up and literally shouted at me, “There are issues with you breastfeeding! It’s disgusting! You even do it in regular shirts!” I told her that I have always been very modest, and was completely covered at all times. If there was no blanket, it was because I had a breastfeeding shirt that allowed me to nurse with out showing skin, or a regular shirt that was large enough for baby’s head to be under. At NO time could anyone every see skin. Then, my secretary (the treasurer’s best friend) stood up and pointed her finger in my face SHOUTING “there is NO reason I should have to explain to my 11 year old daughter what you are doing under your blanket or shirt! It’s disgusting and has no place in the scouting organization. You even did it at the Hartville Chocolate Factory!” …my husband could sit in silence no more. He started arguing mine and Sammy’s rights to nurse. They argued back that my rights were only in public venue, not at the church where our pack meets. They compared our rights to that of the most recent case of LGBT vs BSA, and said that me breastfeeding endangered the boys… and our case would fail just like the LGBT’s did.

There hasn’t been a formal response from the Boy Scouts Buckeye Council, yet. They will be reached for comment soon.

Tess went on to say, ” I was worried because it’s a small town that me and my son wouldn’t matter because the scouts do so much in our community. However, I realize that this kind of crap will continue until breastfeeding is made something other than taboo. And the only people that are going to do that are the women that stand up for their rights and the rights of their babies.”

Please share this story and get the word out. Moms should not be getting attacked for doing what’s best for their children!