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!

[whatashower]

OP, recognise the misplaced obligation. But I think this has far less to do with lgbt awareness per se, and much more to do with the same fake workplace inclusiveness activities and culture as 'we are all one big family' (right up until you are laid off 🤣). Where people feel obliged to join in non-work related activities for fear of being castigated. Its quite oppressive and any sensible LGBT employee or advocate would see it for what it is. As dinosaur says this is flag waving and by condoning the over enthusiasm, I would suggest your employer is virtue-signalling. So I dont think you are being unreasonable.

[BackforGood]

@midnite Great post.

Longines You are sort of arguing against yourself though with the thought that the OP's work colleagues are right to force everyone to wear a rainbow lanyard and saying, that the wearing of a rainbow lanyard is helpful to a person who s LGBT so they know who they would feel safe / comfortable talking to.
If everyone has to wear one, then the person who is self concious talking about their home life still won't know who is likely to be supportive, will they ?

[FlorisApple]

Yep, agree with Backforgood, surely the assumption of professionalism on the part of all employees should be that they accept difference and are tolerant of diverse identities. By making people wear symbols to show their support or tolerance, doesn't that undermine the idea that everyone is expected to exhibit these values at work anyway? It's coming from a presumption that people are intolerant unless they prove otherwise by wearing a lanyard or donating or whatever.

[ReanimatedSGB]

Yes, the whole Rainbows for Pride thing is now almost meaningless in workplaces, because it's far more about Look How Inclusive We Are than anything to do with, you know, actually making sure staff aren't bullied or discriminated against. It doesn't cost a company very much to scatter a few rainbow stickers around the place, or insist that employees wear rainbow hats for a week. It's not like examining their pay structures to ensure fairness, or paying attention to diversity of other kinds...

[cranberryx]

I personally don't think that corporate is a place for LGBT virtue signalling, I don't see an issue with fund raising/rainbow lanyards at employee level.

What really gets my goat is my Ex-Employer. Famous UK retailer, not known for their LGBT advocacy. In fact, their photography/video/social media guidelines prohibited any implication of it because of middle-easten franchisees.

All woman have to wear a wedding ring in photos (not many people notice this in the shop windows though) and you can't show two men together with a child unless there was a woman there too. Suddenly, their logo was rainbow coloured across all social platforms this July.

I was very .

[Deadbudgie]

straight privilege??? Oh ffs!

[bd67th]

With the OP on this. I hate corporate virtue-signalling. I'm female and out as bi and I get way more shit for being female than bi. I doubt I'd be allowed to display feminist symbols or slogans at my desk though.