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 agree with this. Next we will all have to wear coded hats.

It’s got fuck all to do with you why anyone doesn’t want to wear a rainbow badge and they’re within their rights to report you to HR for harassment.

Why are you being so derogatory towards women who simply think buologic sex is real and important in certain situations?

You know this is a free country and we’re not forced to wear such badges? Had I worked where you do, I’d have raised a complaint as it infringes on my rights to not be forced to display support for something I don’t.

I didn’t say anyone ought to wear a rainbow badge if they don’t want to. But wearing a sign that you’re opposed to LGBT is open discrimination

The answer here is very simple. Name badges should be neutral. If you want to wear a pin in addition, knock yourself out, so long as there is no obligation for people wear one if the don't want to.

I wouldn’t wear a rainbow badge because I’m not LGB or T and I don’t want people to think I am. I don’t support the T, I wouldn’t discriminate against them but I’m diametrically opposed to everything they stand for. As for LGB I just don’t think it’s that big a deal in 2025, why don’t your badges support other protected groups?

Who is doing that?

Sexual orientation IS a protected characteristic, what are you taking about?

I'm 'B'.

This movement does not speak for me, and never has. Wearing a red badge would be advertising that I'm 'anti' myself. Ridiculous.

T isn't a sexual orientation

Does make them legally protected from discrimination though. As all of us are

How are you supposed to abstain from wearing the rainbow badge without being accused of “discrimination” then? It’s the only other option. In reality, the badge policy is more likely to constitute workplace discrimination.

In what role do you imagine this would be relevant?

In what way are they supporting anyone?

Is the badge anti LGBT or is it just a red badge, an alternative for those who don’t want to virtue signal wear a rainbow one?

Change the badges to hats and it makes the whole thing laughable. It’s a workplace!!

It depends what you personally think is “discrimination”. Can Dave be sacked because of his identity? No. Can he use women only spaces? Supreme Court says no.

I feel like having an “anti LGBT” badge could come across as provocative, especially considering your area of work. However, you shouldn’t be forced into wearing rainbow badges either. I would say it’s best to let people who agree with the ideology to wear the badges and not force others to wear one. Sadly, in some jobs you face real consequences for refusing to wear rainbow badges.

OP asked how some people can be anti lgbt. Some people might not be anti gay rights, but are gender critical. That is usually what it is nowadays. Other people are religious and it goes against their holy book to support LGBT communities openly. At best, you will get a “love the sinner, hate the sin” type sentiment from religious people. A minority will be bigots who use this as an excuse to be abusive to someone, but that’s a minority.

Why do you need to have anything on your badge other than your name?

Wearing a red one will, quite clearly, offend those who are LGBT.

Wearing a rainbow will offend those not in support.

Why can't everyone just do their jobs and leave personal opinions at home.

My hat is furry because I like dogs.

My hat is yellow because I like bananas and hate the mistreatment of daffodils.

I now changed into a red hat because I love ketchup!

wait does that mean you don’t like dogs anymore??

I can’t work with you!! I’m upset 😭

No you should never have had the badges, this so completely stupid and a total minefield in a workplace.

Several of my gay friends no longer support the rainbow flag because they feel it has been usurped by the T and many women feel it is anti L.

Well they could report harassment but it would be unfounded, that wouldn't look great for them.

OP said “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+”

As you and I know, challenged young people are incredibly difficult to reach and connect with. If wearing a badge with a rainbow on it helps, is that really so terrible?

I think you’ve over-reacted a bit, OP. To me, the red would signal neutrality and openness, not that I hated LGBTQ+. I can’t imagine how any professional organisation would frame it as being against in this manner. I hope you and your colleagues will start telling your service users that it’s nothing to do with being against.

Maybe you could suggest ordinary, non-performing virtue signalling name badges across the organisation. Or a smiley face etc.

Nowadays, it’s not the LGB that is the issue; it’s the hijacking by the TQ+ activists that people, especially women whose sex-based rights are at stake, are concerned about. I think a neutral badge is kind of a good idea, though what else do you need on a name badge except yours & the company’s names.

I'm aware of that, but you and the poster I quoted seem to be forgetting the LGB part.