PASADENA and LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Southland mothers and fathers rallied together for a common purpose on Friday: babies.
Nursing moms in Pasadena joined thousands of others across the nation to raise awareness. They wanted women to be able to feel more comfortable breastfeeding in public.
"Sometimes I get very disapproving looks from other women," said Jennifer Young, a Valley Village resident.
Linda Uller with The Pumps Station and Nurtury said breastfeeding in public shouldn't be a negative experience.
"As a country, we have equated breasts as sexual objects. There is nothing sexual between a mother and a baby. It is the perfectly natural way to feed your child," Uller said.
Nursing moms are legally allowed to breastfeed whenever and wherever they want in most states in the U.S. While many cover up, it is not required.
Still, confrontations erupt.
A husband in Texas lashed out when a worker at a recreation center told his wife to nurse somewhere else.
At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a security guard asked a mom to cover up. He has since been retrained.
Meanwhile, dads in Long Beach advocated for potty parity, or diaper-changing stations in men's restrooms as well as women's or family restrooms. Senate Bill 1350, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara, D- Huntington Park, would require such facilities statewide.
"We are here to say that men change diapers too, and as modern families evolve so should our state," Lara said.