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Brighton mother reaches settlement in lawsuit after church shames her for breastfeeding

Posted at 6:51 AM, Dec 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-17 18:26:20-05

BRIGHTON, Mich. (WXYZ) — A Brighton mother who says a local church shamed her for breastfeeding her child has reached a settlement in her lawsuit.

Amy Marchant says she was told last summer that nursing her child was immodest and could sexually arouse other men.

The mother was breastfeeding her child at Nazarene Church in Brighton one year ago. When she got home, she received a Facebook message from a staff member at the church.

The church sent a letter and apologized a month later. But, Marchant says the letter was defamatory.

"They said that I was nursing with both breast fully exposed and basically the rumor turned into I was nursing topless," Marchant said.

Marchant says since the incident she’s left the church. She’s hoping this will be a wake up call for everyone that it’s OK to breastfeed, but says there is a bigger problem with society.

The church has agreed to issue an apology and update its breastfeeding policies and procedures. They're also required to donate to two breastfeeding organizations.