To feel sympathy to the National Trust volunteers at Felbrigg Hall?

Using the phrase virtue signalling says a lot about a person.

Being snide and bitchy says even more about a person.

Using the phrase virtue signalling says a lot about a person.

Storm in a NT tea cup I am afraid!

I do feel sympathetic to them as I think the NT has gone overboard in this property.

The property was gifted to them by a man who was as far as his family, who are still alive, single all his life. He was incredibly private. This may or may not have been because he was gay and due to laws about homosexuality at the time - we can't know if he would have been just as private now.

The NT has had access to his diaries and discovered he had gay relationships and decided Felbrigg will be it's LGBT flagship property, with everyone wearing badges etc. His family are furious saying they had known nothing about his private life, he was a private person - they really don't care that he was gay but he wouldn't have wanted this this.

I would guess (hope) this is the angle the volunteers are coming from. I think the NT has looked at the past through the eyes of the present.

If they're volunteers they should be owed a bit more gratitude for the time they've given for free in support of the house so far. They should be able to choose to wear it or not and clearly some of them have reasons for thinking it's disrespectful to the previous owner.
PS Stripy that's such a childish comment.

No one should be forced to virtue signal.

I feel the same about poppies. If people choose to wear them, that's fine but no one should be forced to.

The volunteers and members of the man's family are angry that the NT chose to "out" him. Not the NT's place to do that.

I don't think any of the volunteers are anti gay rights, just furious at being forced into this position. I agree with them.

Mind you, it's possible that the volunteer's views have been somewhat misrepresented, if the quote about the owner of the house being 'a very private man' is anything to go by.

Maybe they disagree with the massive focus on his sexuality because he wouldn't have liked that and are uncomfortable with it for that reason.

Or maybe they're bigots. Hu noez.

It's a bit silly. It's just a badge and a lanyard. Both sides have overreacted, they shouldn't be forced to wear it but really, what's the harm in wearing it? You won't catch the gay.

LGBTQ rights are not a "right-on" passing phase.

The National Trust is in receipt of public money and so should be held to the same standard. They are already aware that they don't do enough to be inclusive of people from minority ethnic backgrounds for example.

They are massive landowners, including land that may be perceived as public access, they don't just look after stately homes.

Volunteers can't make up the rules for an organisation, if they are volunteers they should commit to the organisation, not expect it to be another way around.

They are volunteers. Why are they moaning? Why don't they go and volunteer at a homeless shelter, drug rehabilitation centre or women's refuge or something they do believe in instead?

I find it hard to feel sympathy for bigots.

They've been told to wear rainbow badges I. Support of Pride. A film is also being shown about a previous owner who was apparently gay. They feel this is wrong as he was a very private man. OP. Yes I completely agree with you. I think it's unnecessary. And I can imagine that some older volunteers may feel very uncomfortable.

It's not like they've "sacked" them though - some have taken a break during the campaign, some have switched to backroom duties. Nobody's been punished.

Huh? Care to elaborate?