It's utterly baffling and deeply disturbing how many people are not only going along with this but actively fighting for it. Having had my LLL Leader accreditation as a breastfeeding counsellor removed over this (although according to the LLLI Board it was for 'disparaging LLL' and talking to the press, which I did as a trustee) and now no longer being in a trustee of LLLGB, I can't fight it from the inside any longer. I will be fighting it from the outside though and speaking up as loudly as I can.
Welcome Ruth, you will find many former Leaders here as well as some trying to fly under the radar of the Stasi working for LLLI. I remain amazed at their willingness to force out Leaders, which of course only leaves these "ex" Leaders to freely express themselves as you have here, unconstrained by any LLL policies, compelled speech and unreasonable imposed boundaries.
Marian Tompson is a powerhouse of a woman. The organization she founded with her friends has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of women and children worldwide. She has given health, love and hope for so many years. Thank you for telling her story, Lucy. Women like her are proof that the world can change for good.
Although my first LLL meeting was over quite a while ago, I remember it well. Warm welcoming by the Leader, us mothers sharing our challenges and what we love about breastfeeding, etc. I got hooked right away. Imagining myself attending a meeting today with my baby and sitting next to man who identifies as a woman and who has a week old baby in his arms he wants to feed from his body scares me. No thanks. I would have never come back to LLL if this would have been the case.
I suspect that most new mothers feel as you did. Breastfeeding in public for the first time is a big step for women and only possible because of the reassurance that only other women will be observing them.
This is an excellent piece Lucy, thank you. I plan to spend the next few days reading the rest of your work. I was a breastfeeding counsellor with the National Childbirth Trust in the UK but still take an active interest in breastfeeding politics. There seems to be a wealth of information to explore on your Substack.
It's utterly baffling and deeply disturbing how many people are not only going along with this but actively fighting for it. Having had my LLL Leader accreditation as a breastfeeding counsellor removed over this (although according to the LLLI Board it was for 'disparaging LLL' and talking to the press, which I did as a trustee) and now no longer being in a trustee of LLLGB, I can't fight it from the inside any longer. I will be fighting it from the outside though and speaking up as loudly as I can.
Welcome Ruth, you will find many former Leaders here as well as some trying to fly under the radar of the Stasi working for LLLI. I remain amazed at their willingness to force out Leaders, which of course only leaves these "ex" Leaders to freely express themselves as you have here, unconstrained by any LLL policies, compelled speech and unreasonable imposed boundaries.
I admire you greatly for taking this position. Thank you.
I'm glad Marian's resignation is getting so much press.
Marian Tompson is a powerhouse of a woman. The organization she founded with her friends has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of women and children worldwide. She has given health, love and hope for so many years. Thank you for telling her story, Lucy. Women like her are proof that the world can change for good.
Keep telling it like it is!
Although my first LLL meeting was over quite a while ago, I remember it well. Warm welcoming by the Leader, us mothers sharing our challenges and what we love about breastfeeding, etc. I got hooked right away. Imagining myself attending a meeting today with my baby and sitting next to man who identifies as a woman and who has a week old baby in his arms he wants to feed from his body scares me. No thanks. I would have never come back to LLL if this would have been the case.
I suspect that most new mothers feel as you did. Breastfeeding in public for the first time is a big step for women and only possible because of the reassurance that only other women will be observing them.
Excellent
La Leche League leaders have officially lost the plot. Time for a breakaway group that supports breastfeeding MOTHERS to form?
This is an excellent piece Lucy, thank you. I plan to spend the next few days reading the rest of your work. I was a breastfeeding counsellor with the National Childbirth Trust in the UK but still take an active interest in breastfeeding politics. There seems to be a wealth of information to explore on your Substack.
Thank you.
What a well-written article. I loved your history on the League and the environment in America at the time.
Well said ,Lucy. What's happening now is a tragedy for humanity ,especially for mothers and babies. Keep fighting 💪💪💪