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 would honestly not make that assumption - I'd assume they were working within company policy (as it's something that had been agreed to)

Terfs are such hysterical crybabies, absolutely no nuance or consideration (probably why they fit in well with other bigots I guess)

Sure. I’m sure everyone is taking all your “nuanced” comments extremely seriously.

The issue might not even arise, since many teachers in faith schools will be doing subjects completely unrelated to religion.

@Catssuddenlyappear @whatishappening123

The point is that the work place is not the correct place for this type of signalling / advocacy.

Your views are yours.

Mine are mine (and equally valid by the way).

I am entitled to attend my work place in a neutral environment.

The silly hyperbole and insults is literally all these people have.

I absolutely would not wear a rainbow badge especially not one that represents the “progress flag”.

i have no wish to be aligned with the anti women, homophobia of the T+ activists

I know 🫠🫠🫠

Yes, because wearing a rainbow badge and believing that trans people shouldn't have the right to exist are the only options.

🙄

Well, red is my favourite colour and rainbows are depressing to me, so Id pick red!

I’d feel the way you do, OP.

These young people need support from open minded adults. Not judgemental ones.

I wouldn't wear a gender critical badge because I wouldn't want to expose myself to the risk of rape and death threats from Team #BeKind.

Other than religious reasons, the reason why they won't wear it is because the LGBT Left community have developed a reputation for being aggressive, sanctimonious and censorious, and people understandably want nothing to do with that.

Not so open minded as to allow the brain to fall out though

We were offered rainbow badges and were told it would signify us as a 'safe' person to talk to or approach. I was a professional and safe for anyone to talk to. I didn't need a flipping rainbow badge ffs.

Also OP, why aren't YOU wearing a lanyard that shows your support to people with disabilities, or maybe wear one of veterans, or cancer survivors, or domestic abusive victims? How about one that reflects support to movement slavery victims? Or a particular religion like Judaism or Hinduism (given that religion is a protected characteristic)?

Why does LBGT get to trump everything else in terms of priority???

No this isn't the case.
I haven't mis interpreted.
I feel that the rainbow is inclusive but I'm taking on board the neutrality comments.
I do feel it's a backwards step though.

I’d prefer to know who the bigots are. The fact that they lie to hide that bigotry, tells me that they are actually ashamed of it.

This badge was chosen by workplace several years ago as the office standard name badge.
We don't really have lanyards (I don't anyway)

I hope so. Can’t disagree that comparative religion is a really interesting subject.

I find the whole badges thing rather childish to be truthful - the default position should be support for all, fairness for all.

It almost feels like by showing allegiance to one group you are dismissing others as less important and that’s not nice

I urge you to read up on how workers were treated in Stalinist Russia, what the political atmosphere was like under the growing influence of the Nazis, and read 1984 whilst you're at it.

If you didn't wear the right flag or badge, you could be ostracised or lose your job. There were informants everywhere, ready to report on heretical thinkers or those who were disobedient to The Cause. Everyone was sucked into the same group think.

There are some chilling parallels in some of the behaviour and some aggressive, self-righteous, sanctimonious, ignorant people who call themselves LGBT activists.

Why did they make people wear badges that they didn't agree with? Sounds like your employer doesn't support 'the right to believe'.

I would refuse to wear a rainbow badge. Forcing someone to lie about facts is not acceptable.

The fact that they fear sharing that they do not want to wear a rainbow says it all really doesn't it? People should feel supported either way and the reds are not.

What do you think is bigoted here?

That isn't enough for them because it's not about fairness for all. They want their cause to be top priority and in the limelight in a way that overshadows everything else.

This is such a good point

Yes it would and it wouldn't be the ones wearing red badges.