Breast/Chestfeeding Rights in Public Places
You have the right to breast/chestfeed* in any place (public or private) where you and your baby are otherwise allowed to be.
The Illinois Right to Breastfeed Act states that a person may breast/chestfeed their baby in any location, public or private, where they are otherwise authorized to be.
- You are not required to cover up while breast/chestfeeding. However, in a place of worship, a breast/chestfeeding person must behave appropriately according to the norms of the place of worship.
- If you are denied the right to breast/chestfeed by the owner or manager of a public or private place, you can bring a lawsuit (except in cases where the denial occurred in a private residence or a place of worship).
Federal laws and regulations also protect a person's right to breast/chestfeed their child on any federal property where they are otherwise authorized to be.
You have the right not to be denied access to a place of public accommodation (such as a store, restaurant, park, or library) because you are breast/chestfeeding or because you asked for accommodations to breast/chestfeed or pump milk.
The Illinois Human Rights Act protects any person from being denied the full and equal enjoyment of facilities, goods and services at any place of public accommodation just because they are breast/chestfeeding or need to pump milk. Places of public accommodation include a wide range of locations open to the public, such as hotels, restaurants, theaters, stores, professional offices, public transportation, museums, libraries, parks, day cares, gyms, and homeless shelters.
The Illinois Lactation Accommodation in Airports Act requires large airports in Illinois to provide a lactation room for members of the public to express milk in private. The lactation room cannot be a restroom and must include a chair and electrical outlet.
The Illinois Counties Code requires local county courthouses to provide a lactation room or area for members of the public to express milk in private. The lactation room cannot be a restroom and must include a chair, table, and electrical outlet.
*Chestfeeding is an alternate term for lactating people that do not use the term “breast” when referring to their bodies.
