Breastfeeding mom says restaurant demanded she cover up
MICHIGAN (WTVD) -- A Michigan mother is speaking out after she says a restaurant refused to serve her unless she covered up while breastfeeding her child.
Sara Glide was nursing her three-month-old daughter at Matt and Mike's Eatery Wednesday evening when the server asked her to use a cover. Glide says her daughter has breathing problems and can't have her face covered by a nursing blanket.
"I was visibly shaken," Glide said. "I shouldn't have to feel like I can't feed my baby in public."
When Glide refused, the waitress had another employee serve the family.
Restaurant owner Rick Butler said the restaurant has no problems with breastfeeding, and the waitress was not discriminating against Glide. He offered a different account of the evening.
"The waitress went up to get their drink order and mentioned that she may want to cover up if anyone else comes," he said.
Shortly after, he said, "The mother was threatening to leave. The waitress told her no, that was that was not necessary. We could not stop her from leaving but we were not asking her to leave."
"I know the law just changed recently," Butler added, "but I was not under the impression that asking to cover-up was not legal."
The law in question is Michigan's "Breastfeeding Anti-Discrimination Act," which gives women the right to nurse a child in any place that is open to the general public - including stores and restaurants. Butler said he wishes the government would clarify the specific dos and don'ts of the law to avoid confusion.
