Please don't put a rainbow in your window!

[RuffleCrow]

For the past few years the rainbow has sadly becomea symbol of silencing, sexual stereotyping and oppression for a lot of women and those in the LGB community. If you're thinking of putting one up, please think about how that may make women feel - many of whom have already experienced death threats and lost their friends and jobs thanks to those who wield the rainbow flag as a weapon.

I just saw two on my walk just now and it made me feel like shit. Not the intended effect I'm sure. Please consider something else: the sun coming out from a cloud, or a simple landscape. Thanks.

You're right Ruffle but not using it is letting them win surely

RuffleCrow go back to bed love

Should we also ban children from singing ‘i can sing a rainbow?’ Better to know now so I don’t cause offence in future years.

The rainbow in the window is currently a sign of hope and solidarity, not to mention giving the children and nay one something to make, in here awful times.

I know the LGBT community had it as there symbol but never once have I heard it being a sigh of abuse towards women. I am very sceptical that something is bright and colourful could be seen as a negative sign.

I'm not going to be bullied out of my personal feelings on this matter. Have reported your post @Sandsnake.

You hate rainbows, don't put any rainbows on your house. There, job done.

Yep, this.

Isn't that pretty much the same rejoinder that's used to address people who express disagreement with same-sex marriage: "Well, don't marry somebody of the same sex as yourself, then, and we're all happy."

What about these, are they OK?

Can people please stop using pictures of biscuits please as it is reminding me of stockpilers during this crisis.

I'm as GC as they come OP but this is a rainbow drawn by kids, not virtue signalling from companies/people with lanyards etc. This is our chance to reclaim the rainbow for everyone (if necessary put some wording above/below it to make it clear what rainbows really stand for). Somewhere over the rainbow....wanders off singing....

RuffleCrow

You’re literally trying to bully and guilt trip people into taking rainbows down because they hurt your feelings!

I get what you're saying, I get a gut reaction to anything rainbow related these days. But I hope it can be representative of something nice and hopeful again...

Maybe next you can head over to the ttc after pregnancy loss threads and talk shit to them about rainbows 🙄

OP could you please explain how the rainbow is being used to symbolise oppression? I don't want to cause offence but I haven't seen any negative connotations of a rainbow.

Wow. YABU and really selfish. If a symbol like the rainbow bothers you that is your issue to sort; don’t try and force everyone else to capitulate to your wishes.

Your feelings are no more important than anyone else’s.

If only the world was black and white, but its not. Its a fucking rainbow.

I love the rainbows! It's very sweet that kids are putting these up.
Nothing to do with the transgender takeover.

Don’t be ridiculous. A rainbow is a rainbow. A drawing of a rainbow is a drawing of a rainbow.

Claim it back OP.

Reframe. See this for the wonder and positivity of childhood innocence.

I'm truly sorry if you've been threatened by people in rainbow clothing and now have an emotional response to rainbow. But perhaps you could use this time to work with your therapist to reduce your emotional response to a symbol. I get that it is hard. I was shot at once outside of ASDA. It took me a while to be able to see that particular colour green without a fear response. But that was my issue to work through, not my neighbour with a particularly lurid choice of car colour. I got there. I can shop in ASDA and everything again now.

This rainbow design is not the same rainbow design or intent as that worn by those who abused you.

This is a symbol of hope.

This is not about you.

Have a day off fgs!

I'm staunchly GC and there's a rainbow in our window. Dd loves rainbows, unicorns and all things similar.

My daughter's also lined up all her unicorns (some of which are rainbow unicorns) looking out of her bedroom window as well. That's probably triggering someone somewhere.

Huh? Yeah, babe, it's all about you

Did it cross your mind that this might actually change what you perceive the negative association and make it a symbol of positivity? A neutral one

This thread reminds me of a 'news' article that I saw a couple of years ago or so where a lesbian took great offence at a clothing designer's new line which featured the word 'FEMME' written prominently across jumpers.

She was complaining bitterly, because "it's a major part of our identity and can't we be allowed to have just one thing to ourselves?"

Errrmmmm, you do realise that it's also been an integral part of the identity of 50% of the adult population of all French-speaking countries for a very long time, don't you....?

You do know that rainbows existed before they were hijacked by the lgbtq community
Maybe we just want rainbows shared fairly
I mean there must be enough to go around