Breastfeeding group stands by decision to include trans members, despite backlash

A breastfeeding advocacy organization has stood by its decision to include trans and nonbinary members - despite backlash from cisgender mothers.

As per the New York Post, a British critic has slammed the global group La Leche League for losing "its focus on the mother and baby."

The group, which was founded by American mothers in 1956, has now extended its branches to 89 countries and has a number of "active" groups across the US, all of which possess their own local "leader".

The league's branch in the UK, LLLGB, recently issued a statement saying that it wanted to be more "inclusive" of trans and nonbinary parents, who were born with female anatomy but do not identify as women.

"Trans men, trans women and non-binary individuals may choose to breastfeed or chestfeed their babies," they wrote. "You do not need to have given birth to breastfeed or chestfeed, as we can also see in the experiences of those nursing adopted babies."

The LLLGB has chosen to replace the term "breastfeed" with "chestfeed" to acknowledge gender-variant people who have medically transitioned, and they have provided them with advice on how to "stimulate their milk supply" through hormones.

But this progressive move has been slammed by a mother claiming to be a former LLLGB leader who expressed "alarm" at what she said is potentially unsafe clinical advice.

She wrote on Mumsnet: "I was a La Leche League leader for many years and am very upset to see how the organization has lost its focus on the mother and baby.

"LLLGB should not be promoting the idea that males can induce lactation to feed a baby. There is no evidence to say this is safe, only an anecdotal example of a case where a doctor in the US enabled this to happen using off label drugs."

Another slammed the move claiming that it means that the group is no longer catering to cisgender women who have been historically stigmatized for breastfeeding.

"It is really depressing that a breastfeeding charity isn't prioritizing breastfeeding. There's so much guilt and shame around women who have a difficult time of it, and so much policing and judgment," she said. "It is a particular female experience and it is not up for grabs."

However, in an interview with the Daily Mail, the LLLGB's chairwoman Helen Lloyd said that this inclusion policy has been in existence since 2017, despite the recent backlash.

"Most groups run more than one type of meeting so they can help to make sure the people who need support can get it in an environment they feel comfortable," Lloyd said.

The LLL USA groups have also added a similar statement to their website, writing how they are "committed to diversity and inclusion" and "supports all breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding families, inclusive of their race, ethnicity, immigration status, national origin, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, family structure, primary language, ability, or socio-economic status."

Lloyd added: "We would not be in a position to challenge somebody’s gender presentation. If someone is feeding a baby at their chest we would not say ‘get out.’"

The chairwoman then said the LLLGB was "proud" to make their "reach as wide as possible."

Well done to the LLL for their inclusive stance!