Rainbow badges at work - upset

[whatishappening123]

I work in a sector with vulnerable young people. A few years ago, we made the decision as a company to wear as part of our uniform, a name tag with the rainbow on as part of pledging our support to LGBT+
We have all received new name badges and for the first time ever- an option has been provided to have a red coloured one instead of the rainbow if staff 'do not agree with LGBT+'
I have raised this with HR and union and been told that staff are now allowed to choose and that is their right.
I feel really upset by this - colleagues I have known for years are now deciding against the rainbow badge.
We work with the most vulnerable- who are often LGBT. Some of our service users have asked staff directly why they are not using them- and they have lied saying " They'd run out , or the pin on the rainbow ones are crap, some staff are hiding the red ones.
It's not a majority by any means - it's probably about 11 staff in a staff of 60.
I just feel really really upset by it, but I can't quite put my finger on why.
I also don't understand how people can be 'against' LGBT
It's a protected characteristic.

i think that is so wrong - think it should be optional if they wear a rainbow or not but not a symbol that is actively saying they are anti LBGT.

I would not wear a rainbow badge as I don’t support the T.

Id say it’s discriminating against me to make me wear a badge that goes against my philosophical belief in terms of being GC.

This sounds really odd to me. Its great to be allowed to show your support of LGBT, why on earth would you not? Why do they need a special colour to show they are against, why not just have a regular name badge but without the rainbow.

Why does the red signify anti lgbtq? Why can’t it be that the person simply doesn’t want the rainbow on their pin? Surely working closely alongside lgbtq young people kind of implies support? Or they’d choose another area to work in?

WTF do you have to advertise an allegiance or otherwise? Just have a badge FGS! It’s not hard!!!

Id hope at the interview stage anyone with abhorrent views is weeded out. Beyond that stage? Mind your own godddam business!!!

Why would they pick the red one and then lie about it? So they don’t want to wear the rainbow but want to be seen as wanting to wear the rainbow one? Seems like a pointless exercise to me.

Also LGBT isn’t a protected characteristic.

Wow, I can't believe they've done that. It almost feels illegal to have badges against!

I don't think there is anything that can be done though, as long as none of the non supporting staff don't discriminate against anyone from the LGBT community

I don’t believe this is real.

A red badge to single ‘they do not agree with LGBT+’…?

If anything it’s surely a red badge because they just don’t want to have to wear a rainbow one?

I cannot fathom any company, let alone one with an HR department, specifically enacting something to show they’re ’against LGBT+’

I’d also highly doubt any organisation worded it as choosing the red pin because you’re against lgbtq. They’re just giving someone an alternative if they don’t want to display the pride flag. Choosing the red doesn’t automatically mean you’re a homophobe.

Exactly! Totally discriminatory of wholly legally held beliefs. I’d never apply for such a job as if someone told me they were non binary it would take all the will in the world not to burst out laughing.

I wouldn't want to advertise that I was against the rights of women either, any more than I would want to be forced to wear a crucifix or cover my hair.

Same. It’s utter bollocks.

it's not anti-LGBTQ+whatever

it is just not performative allyship

Frankly, all badges should be neutral. And you can wear a rainbow badge if you want.

ETA: tbh i prefer red. Because i am pretty much in allignment with the communists. I may even paint a little gold hammer and sickle on it...

I suspect this may be OP’s own interpretation of someone choosing not to wear the rainbow badge.

I don’t think it should be a part of the company uniform. Unless it’s relevant to your work (such as you work for a charity that supports LGBT+ youth.

This kind of thing should ALWAYS be optional.

I dont think rainbows should be any part of the badge tbh. Sounds like virtue signalling

Well report it then.

If your work entails supporting LBGT that is all the signalling you need. You don’t need to wear anything. It’s clearly divisive in your organisation and segregating people with badges is a terrible idea.

I also SERIOUSLY doubt the red is to signify anti-LGBT beliefs.

It’s just a neutral option.

Is the red badge 'anti' LGBT or just a badge that's an alternative to the rainbow one? Someone wearing a rainbow badge wouldn't be seen as 'anti' people who weren't LGBT, so why would you assume someone not wearing one was anti LGBT?

It all sounds a bit nonsensical to me - the rainbow badges shouldn't have been introduced in the first place - forcing people to virtue signal never goes well.

So now you are cross that staff have the option to //not// wear the rainbow if //they// dont want to? its called free will. I'd hate being forced to do something. i'm much more of a "you do you, boo" person and think that should all be kept well out of the workplace.

I wouldn’t wear a rainbow badge and I’m a lesbian

I think OP has deeply misunderstood.

I’d demand a non-LGBTQIA+ rainbow option on the grounds of my philosophical belief. And I’d refuse a rainbow badge. And then I’d take them to an industrial tribunal if they insisted or if I was harassed on the grounds of my protected characteristic.

Simples.