- Breastfeeding charity La Leche League GB in row over trans women policy
Britain’s oldest breastfeeding charity has called out regulators amid accusations of “harassment and bullying” over a policy to include trans women in meetings.
Directors of La Leche League GB (LLLGB) have asked the Charity Commission to intervene over an inclusion policy allowing biological men.
The majority of the charity’s board has opposed allowing transgender women to attend meetings.
Directors have expressed concern that the diktat of the global organisation, based in the United States, could mean that volunteers will also be forced to give advice to trans women who wish to breastfeed.
But a minority of its board members have tried to implement the inclusion policy and hired LLL International as backup.
Britain’s oldest breastfeeding charity has called in regulators amid accusations of “harassment and intimidation” over a policy to include trans women in meetings (file image)
Currently, meetings are women-only and LLLGB directors have resisted attempts to allow men.
The dispute has become so heated that six of the 12 board members sent notices of complaint, threatening them with dismissal.
A serious incident report has been sent to the Charity Commission, which will decide whether to investigate.
The report, seen by the Mail, warns of an exodus of volunteers if the policy is imposed on them by the charity’s international parent body. She also warned that women who need support would be deterred from attending meetings if trans women were present.
The report said: ‘Opening meetings to men (of any gender identity) would exclude a significant number of our beneficiaries, namely mothers.
‘At meetings, they expose their breasts and share intimate experiences. Most feel comfortable doing it with other mothers; many do not breastfeed around men, whether for religious reasons, modesty, previous (or current) experience of male violence, or “simply” discomfort.
‘The leaders are all volunteer mothers with experience in the ‘normal course of breastfeeding.’
Directors of La Leche League GB (LLLGB) have asked the Charity Commission to intervene over an inclusion policy allowing biological men (file photo)
‘We believe that the insistence on opening meetings to men and supporting them in breastfeeding will cause many leaders to leave.
‘After the most recent election of administrators, a minority of administrators began. . . to prevent the majority from debating these issues. The result has been a culture of censorship, harassment and intimidation.”
The dispute reflects a broader move by LLL International that has been interpreted as undermining women’s rights.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We are assessing the information to determine whether this is a matter in which the Commission as a regulator should become involved.”
LLL International has been contacted for comment.