Seattle council protects public breastfeeding

The Seattle City Council has made it illegal for businesses and others to ask mothers to stop breastfeeding, to cover up or move to a different location.

The council unanimously approved a measure Monday that would add a mother's right to breastfeed her child to other protected civil rights, such as race, color, disability, religion and other categories.

It's already illegal in Washington state to discriminate against public breastfeeding. Supporters say this law would allow Seattle's office of civil rights to better protect mothers against discrimination and to educate the public on the issue.

The ordinance would apply to areas open to the public, including doctor's offices, restaurants, libraries and theaters.