to be very pro BFing, but...

[ohforblardysake]

...I wonder if this is taking it too far? I think I would be quite weirded out as an adult if I were this child to see a picture of a bearded man breastfeeding me. Even if he was my dad. I know I'll probably get flamed for not being PC.I have BF both my children and I totally get that he should have the right to breastfeed, but I just find the image of a man breastfeeding quite odd.

www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/08/19/la_leche_league_canada_rejects_breastfeeding_dads_bid_to_become_lactation_coach.html

NB It's fine if you don't agree with me but please, no insults or abuse - just want to know what others views are so let's keep it civil!

Sounds like the ultimate in mansplaining to me.

I can see how it's a sort of grey area and if he identifies as a man rather than a woman then he doesn't 'fit' with LLL's philosophy. But seeing as he's experienced pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding firsthand I think he should be capable of advising others, especially as a role model for other transgendered parents. Maybe LLL's policy is outdated?

Are they right - in that they are respecting his identifying as a man, or wrong - because he has experience of BFing? It's a tough one. They would have been more 'wrong' IMO to say, "yes, by all means you can be a lactation coach, you're a woman after all".

Is a peer, as in peer counselor, a fellow BFer or a fellow mother?

I also think if I was a new mum, hormonal and tired, and I went along to a BFing meeting to be counselled by a man in a beard breastfeeding, I might be pretty freaked out.

It is a bit odd to me,that he identifies as being male that he would do something so intrinsically female.

What Yippee said - a little inflexible and un-progressive of LLL Canada. His original letter can be read here - he in no way expected to be "a typical figurehead", he specifically wanted to offer support to trans parents, people using SNS etc.
This was a year ago, BTW.

I don't see the problem. We have male midwives after all.

I don't see the problem either, he wants to offer support to a specific group of parents. There are multiple birth groups, groups for people who have had breast surgery etc and the leaders of those groups have experience in those particular areas. I don't see how this is any different.

Love this story. Would like to have been a fly on the wall at LLL head quarters when the leadership was discussing what to do about his application.

I truly modern dilemma if ever there was one.

I think if I had to act as Solomon on this issue I'd say that his personal experience of breastfeeding trumps his beard or his genitals when it comes to deciding his suitability as a breastfeeding counsellor.

I don't have an issue with this either.

He has the required knowledge and experience for the role.

There are men in other roles that don't have personal experience - midwives, gynaecologists for example.

No one has an issue there.

I think he/she is way cool (if quite odd, too, but odd can be cool). I can see why LLL didn't want him to be a leader. Not ready for that, yet, when they have limited resources. One day. Doesn't mean he can't offer peer support.