of an exodus of volunteers if the charity's international parent body forces the policy on them. It also warned that women in need of support would be put off from attending meetings if trans women were present.
The report read: 'Opening meetings to males (of any gender identity) would exclude a significant number of our beneficiaries i.e. mothers.
'At meetings, they expose their breasts and share intimate experiences. Most are comfortable doing so around other mothers; many will not breastfeed around men, whether for religious reasons, modesty, previous (or current) experience of male violence or 'just' discomfort."
Obviously.
Update: Statement from the concerned LLLGB trustee group defending sex-based rights.
“La Leche League (LLL) has always been about mother-to-mother support to breastfeed. Being able to provide a female-only service is fundamental to the rights, safety and wellbeing of both mothers and babies.
“The volunteers at LLLGB have built a powerful legacy over 50 years, having helped thousands of mothers in a culture that is not always supportive of breastfeeding.
“Pressure to abandon mother-only breastfeeding services has been building internationally at LLL for several years as gender-identity activism has gathered force. We are now at the point that group leaders around the world are being told they must support ‘male lactation’.
“As a group of current trustees of LLLGB, we have exhausted every process available to us to defend sex-based services. LLL International and a small number of fellow trustees at LLLGB have undermined our efforts and left us with no choice but to alert the Charity Commission.
“We would like to reassure group leaders and the mothers who benefit from LLLGB’s services that we are confident the law is on our side, as mother is a sex-based term in UK law.
“Our primary focus is to serve mothers and their children, and we are determined to see through this turbulent time and secure the future of LLLGB as an organisation with mother-to-mother support at its heart.”
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