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.

Excellent post 👏

Really? A person's religion is also a feeling/thought in their head but you can't go around saying someone's religion upsets you and object to expressions of religious belief.

Identified as what?

People can adopt an ‘identity’, they cannot compel others to pretend that ‘identity’ overrides their sex where it is relevant.

You are not required to validate anyone else's religion. It is perfectly acceptable to say you are an atheist or follow another religion.

In this context, LGBT+. Obviously. As OP clearly said.

I would not opt to wear a Rainbow badge or signia just as I would to opt to wear any badge or motif that aligned with any view point or group at work. I think this should be true across all public organisations as either people should work any badge etc that supports their view or none. The fact that the organisation has provided and either/or is better than you have to wear a rainbow badge - however my view is you either have choice about any or there are no badges.

I don’t think anyone should be wearing badges indicating what is going on in their mind (or not) it just leads to this type of shite.

what about having a private brain with private thoughts and not announcing what you feel about things by using stripey colours.

What an absolutely stupid idea.

Thanks - now embarrassed at the typos - I swear that autocorrect gets more cocky and know it all time goes on.

I don’t think anyone should be wearing badges indicating what is going on in their mind (or not) it just leads to this type of shite.

what about having a private brain with private thoughts and not announcing what you feel about things by using stripey colours.

What an absolutely stupid idea.

This poster even said that they didn’t believe in god 🤦‍♀️ surely that’s upsetting to religious people?

Your sexuality is a protected characteristic actually. You can’t be discriminated against on the grounds of it

Exactly

You also don’t go around saying it would be kind for everyone to wear a cross so believers feel included, even if they believe there is no God. No one’s inner feelings of belief should require others to pretend. EVER.

If you don't know how divisive this subject is, you haven't been paying attention. Hopefully this thread has given you some food for thought.

I wouldn't like to be coerced into wearing a badge at work tbh. Whether or not I support the cause isn't the point.

Transgender isn’t sexuality. The protected characteristics are “sexual orientation” and “gender reassignment” not “LGBT”.

exactly, it’s a workplace

T is not sexuality. LGBT does not make sense as a grouping - the first three are sexuality, and the fourth one isn't.

A lot of religions (also a protected characteristic) believe homosexuality is wrong. I don’t agree with them but I can see why someone with strongly held religious beliefs would be uncomfortable wearing a rainbow badge.

Don’t suppose many atheists specifically choose to work supporting religious believers.

The rainbow has now become a political symbol and no one should be pressured to wear it at work. If the only options are rainbow or red, then red has simply become the non-political choice.

If you are GC the rainbow has come to be seen as mostly indicating you support sex & gender stereotypes/ are anti single sex spaces / are a TRA supporter.... rather than mainly indicating support and tolerance towards individuals who aren't heterosexual.

Wearing the rainbow signals that you are a “safe” person for a LGBT+ person. Wearing red in this context would suggest that you are not and this is legitimatising anti LGBT+ prejudices. It feels very off to me too

Why wouldn’t they, if it wasn’t specifically about religion? Are you saying atheists would refuse to work for a Muslim asylum seeker organisation because they don’t agree that Allah exists?

Transgender is also a protected characteristic- gender reassignment.