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.

Where is the bit about segregation?

Being trans is not "role play".
It's a naturally occurring form of cognitive difference.

I hope that helps inform you.

True, but most people feel more male or more female. Happy to be corrected but I think non binary folk either don't identity with either or feel equally both.

Where is your common sense op? It’s a name badge so should be plain.

Also, I’m not clicking on potentially dubious google docs. Please copy and paste the information about male trans prisoners being segregated from women.

But what does that even mean? How do you 'feel female' beyond your biology?

What does it mean to feel male or female? I don’t feel particularly female because I don’t know what that means/feeling my sex (ooh la la) isn’t something that occupies much space in my mind. I’m in no doubt that I am female though.

I agree with the above. It should be optional whether you wear the rainbow badge or not. Although I don't think anyone should be wearing anything that symbolises being 'against' the cause.

It's a naturally occurring form of cognitive difference.

Well, I'm glad you agree it's all in their heads.

Someone else being trans is up to them, me pretending that their are the opposite sex is require me to role play.

You do you. I’ll do me, that doesn’t include role playing and pretending, especially when it affects my sex class. Sport comes to mind.

Spot on. I'm neutral - as in, I couldn't give a toss about who bumps uglies with whom or who other people fall in love with. I'm not that interested tbh. Do what suits. It doesn't impact on me. I wish everyone to love and be loved as they see fit. I don't need a badge to explain that.

I think it's dodgy for employers to expect employees to pledge political allegiance with their organisation. Yeah this lot are with the good guys...but it's the thin edge of a wedge isn't it? Our leanings should be governed by our own experiences, families and prioritising those we love, not our workplace.

Besides that, I've always thought it was a bit of a shame that rainbows have been pinpointed with political significance. Rainbows are far bigger than any of that. They're for every woman, man or child to admire and wonder at. I'd like to be able to wear/display/decorate with/pay homage to rainbows without making a statement beyond 'I like rainbows'.

Eta: Or to get to the actual point of my post, the badges were probably a bad idea in the first place. As you say.

For clarity: I have nothing against LGBT people - before I get flamed! I’m simply making a point about personal freedoms here.

But I’m horrified by this policing of our thought and opinions - insisting on people wearing bloody badges to declare their support for things which should be part of normal humanity. Otherwise the Correct-thinking Brigade will be coming for you. Ugh!

And actually, you are allowed not to approve of all kinds of things. There’s no law which says you have to agree with current thinking on many topics. The crucial thing is that you don’t act on your dislikes. Other than that, it’s no one else’s business what your personal opinions are.

I am female. It’s not a label you can choose to adopt on a whim, it’s simply the reality of biological sex. “Non binary” is navel gazing nonsense.

Why does their identity in particular need to be valued in the workplace? It’s a never ending slippery slope. I would show any colleagues or team members that they are valued by leading an inclusive team, respecting each others beliefs and differences (to the extent this comes up at work in the first place) and promoting and paying people based on merit and their contribution to the job/team regardless of religion, sexuality or whatever else that is irrelevant to their ability to do their job. I am GC - that doesn’t mean I would treat a trans colleague any differently to any other colleague or have anything whatsoever against such a colleague, but yes, it does cost me something to put my pronouns in my email and I’d rather not be forced to do it in the workplace.

I’m part of the “LGB”. I could have a rainbow badge at work but I don’t. I don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss sexuality with randomers at work - I don’t “bring my whole self”, I work with all ages from their first day to their last and anyone’s sexuality is just not relevant. I don’t support the T or the Q and I certainly don’t support the +. I despise the forced teaming that has made people ally themselves with the TQ+ or look like homophobes (or, as Nicola sturgeon famously said -“racist” ). I think the implication that vulnerable young people can automatically trust adults because of a rainbow badge is a safeguarding risk and never should have been encouraged and for that reason I don’t think anyone who works with children or vulnerable adults should be allowed to wear them at work. It’s also really frustrating when organisations slap rainbows on things and pretend they are doing something for equality.

If the people being supported at OP's workplace are trans, that's pretty poor.

It's grim to think of people being so two faced

I feel female in my head, in my thoughts, along with the rest of my identity. Not in my vagina. So to me it seems entirely plausible that someone could have a vagina and feel male, or have a penis and feel female, or identity with both, or neither. Because identity is in the brain, not the body.

What’s poor about it? You can support people without sharing their unreasonable beliefs.

Actually adding all these letters to an email signature across a company or indeed a whole sector adds up and increases your carbon footprint.

In terms of the red badge, surely it's simply a neutral colour so not pro or anti anything? I'd wear that as I hate bandwagon jumping and I certainly don't feel like signalling kindness with symbols or flags, it's a but simple minded and rather cult like. And by the way of course I treat colleges or clients who are gay or trans with respect, it would be a dick move not to, right? It's called basic human decency and being professional.

Now @whatishappening123 , are you seriously so upset by this? That's quite concerning I recommend you broaden your horizon and read far and wide, fact and fiction. HTH.

OMG 🥴

This is only the case because of GC women. How can you not see that? It’s not because trans women aren’t a risk to women, it’s because finally, someone has listened to women and protected them in ONE aspect.
Women in other countries are STILL being forced to share prison cells with men.
We’re still fighting for safety in the other places.

Well, having 'NO DEBATE!!!' screamed at us for sure didn't help.
Men taking awards in women's sporting competitions didn't help much either.
The pink leggings worn by 'Isla Bryson' (a male rapist wanting to be banged up on a women's prison) probably didn't do many favours for the cause either...

*colleagues

There is no such thing as being “female by identity”. Trans “women” are simply a group of men who think they align with women. They don’t.

Not sure I'd wear the rainbow badge, seems a bit "in your face". I'd prefer the simple red one too. That doesn't mean I'm against it. I don't need to shout that I support that community, a bit like how I don't need to shout that I'm not racist or ageist or whatever else we can add to that.

Sexual orientation or LGBT? I refer you to my post at 17:20.

How would being transgender be covered by the sexual orientation protected characteristic?