Vegan Lactivist Mum Sues Pool Centre for Discrimination While Breastfeeding Her Baby

A self-confessed vegan “lactivist” mum was outraged after claiming she was discriminated against while breastfeeding her baby at a pool centre in Lancashire.

Mum, Abbie Stocker, 28, is suing Pendle Wavelengths in Lancashire for $38,237, claiming she was a victim of discrimination while she was breastfeeding her eight-month-old son, Eric, in a wave pool in May last year.

South Wales Evening Post reported that the lifeguard was concerned for the safety of Ms Stocker and her baby as the wave pool was in full flow, so the lifeguard told Ms Stocker to go to the side of the pool where a chair is provided for her to sit and breastfeed.

However, witnesses said that Ms Stocker began arguing with the lifeguard, before fleeing with her son Eric to the changing rooms.

“The way they handled it was not positive. They could have learned from it but they chose not to,” said Ms Stocker, who still breastfeeds her three-year-old daughter.

A few weeks after the incident, Ms Stocker took legal action against Pendle Wavelengths.

United Kingdom’s equality laws state that it is illegal to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place.

“Breastfeeding women are no different to a disabled person or a person of a different nationality in the way you can’t discriminate against them,” Ms Stocker said.

Pendle Wavelengths have not given their comment on the case, but various public signs supporting breastfeeding are posted at the centre.

Source: 9news.com.au