Maine breastfeeding coalition celebrates 'trans lactation, chestfeeding, and Two-Spirit families'

To mark National Breastfeeding Month, observed every August, the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition posted an image “celebrating trans lactation, two-spirit & chestfeeding.”

The image was posted to the coalition’s Instagram page earlier in August, however, the account appears to have since been deleted. The image featured a large trans-identified male hooked up to a breast pump. The male is seen holding a mug that reads “Milk Makes Families.”

The caption read, “National Breastfeeding Month is for every family,” accompanied by a trans flag emoji. “We’re proud to celebrate and uplift trans lactation, chestfeeding, and Two-Spirit families during National Breastfeeding Month.”

“Every family deserves affirming, respectful, and evidence-based care. Creating inclusive spaces means recognizing that parents use different words to describe their feeding journeys, and honoring each person’s identity and lived experience,” the post continued. “When healthcare, communities, and support systems are inclusive, families are better able to meet their feeding goals and feel empowered along the way.”

It closed with a line that read, “milk makes families, and every family belongs.” 

The Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition includes a section in its resource library dedicated to “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, Justice (DEIBJ)” and includes links to resources such as “Transmasculine individuals’ experiences with lactation, chestfeeding and gender equality: a qualitative study,” “What It’s Like to Chestfeed,” and “Information about being a LGBTQIA Ally.”