To think wtaf is happening in our work place.

[Deadbudgie]

I work in a large firm. It has many different interest groups, Muslim soc, Christian soc, women’s network, mental health group, disability group, lgbt group, carers group, scuba diving soc.. the list goes on. Now mostly,unless you’re part of a group you don’t really notice their existence, you might get invited via a firm wide email to celebrate eid with a samosa by the Muslim society, told about talks by mental health group, told about a city carol concert by Christian soc etc. But the leader of the lgbt group is on a mission to either out everyone or make sure they are a visible straight supporter. If you’re in his team and don’t clear the decks for pride you might as well hand in your resignation, everyone has been given rainbow lanyards to wear security passes on. Rainbow flags adorn every notice board. Now I really don’t care who any of my colleagues are in a relationship with, the Christian soc manages to go about it’s business without insisting everyone attaches a crucifix to their lanyard, no sign of mental health symbols either (and I suspect this has a wider relevance to the employee population. Aibu to think all this forced showing of support has no place in the work place and if you tried it with anything else you would be sacked!

[Deadbudgie]

Duchess are you outlet team leader?

[Deadbudgie]

*our

[VioletCharlotte]

NHS by any chance?

[Bluntness100]

Eh? Seriously are you equating the inclusion of lgbt in the workplace to religious choice?

[Slat3]

Do you work in my company? I have a rainbow lanyard & we are very big on pride at the moment.
Although, I’m not sure there is a Christian society

[Thomasinaa]

I agree with you. As long as you don't discriminate against colleagues, that should be it unless you volunteer to do more.

[MissusGeneHunt]

Tricky one really. Could just be an over enthusiastic member of staff, desperate to get the message across. Not everyone spreads the message in the right way...

In stark contrast to our LGBT 'lead', who categorically told straight allies they couldn't possibly wear the rainbow lanyards unless they were LGB or T. Work that one out... I bloody wore three that week (am straight and in support of LGBT friends and family members). Fucking tell me what I can or can't wear, madam...

I was chair of another of the groups and gave lanyards to whoever wanted one, anything gentle to raise the awareness!

[Belina]

They can't sack you over not wanting to wear a brooch

And your work place sounds cool and fun.

[ThistleAmore]

Slight digression: there was pressure from above in my firm to 'rainbow-ise' our logo during Pride month, until a few LGB members of staff spoke up and said they weren't comfortable with corporate virtue-signalling.

The idea was quietly dropped.

[BackforGood]

I don't think the OP is being goady. I'm inclined to agree - when i'm at work, I'm there to work. I don't really care who is in a realtionship with who, who believes what, or who does what in their private lives. Nice to be invited to join celebrations, not right to be forced.

[peachgreen]

@MissusGeneHunt In the kindest way possible, can you not see a valid reason for LGBT people not wanting straight people to co-opt Pride, even if they are allies? I do get where you're coming from and would have reacted the same way once upon a time but I wonder if perhaps they had very valid reasoning for wanting a way for LGBT members of staff to celebrate Pride and identify themselves in a very visual way on this occasion. Lots of interesting articles about it if you google "straight co-opt pride".

[PierreBezukov]

I agree with you OP.

[MyBrexitGoesOnHoliday]

I agree with you.
There is a clear message form any LGBT, and especially T, group to make themselves heard and visible at the moment. At the expense of everyone else. What they think or believe.

So YY to support the LGBT people.
But NO to been forced to do so or to show your support in a visible way.

[greendale17]

I agree with the OP too.

[MissusGeneHunt]

@peachgreen honestly I was a little stumped. I was showing (not just me I hasten to add) my deepest support. Dad was bi, and never talked to anyone through fear (Australian, proper 'bloke' culture at work etc). Many friends in similar positions.

As said, was chair of another group. People without the feature of that group were absolutely encouraged to show visual support for friends and family.

I really didn't and still don't mean to offend, and even members of the LGBT group were horrified their straight colleagues and friends couldn't show visual support.

Just left me feeling confused!

[Deadbudgie]

Just to be clear I have no issue with anyone’s sexuality, I just don’t think the work place is the right environment to put so much pressure on people to behave in certain ways regarding something that not everyone has the same views on. Political, moral and religious beliefs all play a part in how people will react to such forced messaging

[AceAcer]

@BackForGood - - when i'm at work, I'm there to work. I don't really care who is in a relationship with who, who believes what, or who does what in their private lives

This.

[DadDadDad]

I agree with you, OP. To give an analogy, you could pick the most uncontroversially worthy cause, say hospice for blind children dying of cancer, but if you told me I must wear some emblem or a particular colour in support, I would be irked.

Much better to make it voluntary to maximise support (and my preference would be to instead quietly donate some money to a worthy cause without drawing attention to myself).

[AceAcer]

I bet if you dare to object because you are there to, just - you know - work, then you're a hater. It's all utter bollocks.

[Justwanttoweeinpeace]

I agree with the OP too.

When we can live in a world no one could care less about someone else's gender / sexuality etc etc etc and just gets on with the job, without prejudice, we will all be much better for it.

Unless a bake sale is involved. I'm all about the bake sale.

[Gemini69]

I agree OP

[MrsFogi]

Agreed OP. As an aside, our women's network had to be rebranded (to "The network" in order to be more inclusive and to attract more men, I left when we ended up with a male chair and more than 50% of the committee being men.

[peachgreen]

@MissusGeneHunt I understand where you're coming from but I think there's a lot of cynicism about straight people co-opting Pride (understandably) and I can see why some LGBT people would prefer to keep it within the community.