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.

Can women become men though? That transition direction doesn't seem to get much airtime on here.

I'd refuse to wear one. Mind you, I wouldn't be working anywhere that brings sexuality into a workplace with vulnerable adults.

I'm not lying at all.
That is how it was put to us.
I am interested in the PP who said about Stalinist Russia. I truly hadn't considered it in that way

So you agree that "LGBT " isn't a protected characteristic. LGB and T are two completely separate protected characteristics. Sometimes the rights of those two groups clash

“LGBT” isn’t a protected characteristic and it doesn’t map across to the two that are covered. Many people are pro LGB but have concerns re gender identity ideology. They are often reluctant to parrot the TWAW etc mantras. There are conflicts of interest between people who are same sex attracted and people who believe being lesbian or gay is about gender. The fact that you seem unable to grasp this is on you.

Exactly. Being an 'ally' is only an expectation for certain groups. Why are there no calls to be allies to disabled people or elderly people or (whisper it) women?

Employer offering a rainbow badge as an option, why not, but OP judging colleagues who choose the neutral option is not on.
How hypocritical to conveniently ignore the fact that lately the rainbow is also used to show support for groups of people who campaigned against women’s rights.
As it is, I wouldn’t wear one, and would judge negatively people who do.

Well no, of course they can’t 🙄 why do you imagine they can?

This is where I struggle. I’m still considering your earlier post, I really am.. Unfortunately I fear that an ignorant minority do hate. Because that’s what ignorant minorities do, unfortunately. Do I think that they are here, no. Most posters are way, way more informed than I am which is why I read this board.

Ffs this makes my blood boil. Op didn’t seem to care that it wasn’t ever ok to make people at work wear a badge they don’t agree with but then feels sad when people finally have the option to opt out. In what planet is this oppressive fascist bollocks not even noticed anymore. It’s fucking chilling.

I think this is really clear and moderate and not something I embarrassingly had fully considered. Thanks for expressing it so clearly.

To be frank, my tolerance doesn't extend to a man being able to casually say "I'm a woman" and then follow the girls swimming team into the changing rooms and get his cock out amongst them. Which is what self ID would've facilitated.

No I don't think women can become men. Do you?

It gets less airtime because women hare much less ability to threaten men's safety, dignity and take things that belong to them (I.e 'women only' awards). Women in men's spaces do not impact men's safety in the same way. Having said that, I think mem should have rights to their own inti
ate spaces if that's important to them, just like women.

You’re dodging the point. Why aren’t you lobbying for badges inclusive of other causes? Or wearing pin badges for other causes? Why is this the only one that matters?

It’s adorable that people think women here are going to be bothered that they, people who believe men can be women if they say so, think they’re meanies.

God. You’re really grasping at a ‘gotcha’ with this.

Men will NEVER be able to become women.
Women will NEVER be able to become men.

And no one should EVER be forced to pretend or accept that they can. Whether that’s by using false pronouns, welcoming them into single sex spaces or denying scientific fact for the feelings of others.

It is on me, yes.

The topic is running far deeper than I wish to delve to be honest.

All the best to you all :)

This is a funny thread!!! Workplace name badges with gender identification/colour issues!! Lol!

I'm not dodging any point. I have no sway at all at work for company decisions

Well yes, you just came here to virtue signal a bit while you idly scrolled, unfortunately women here know what they are talking about better than you and your “tolerant” self. Laters.

Well ignorant minorities are going to hate all over the place, for all kinds of reasons. That's just life.

But I am heartily sick of women on here being accused of 'hate' because they think vulnerable womem and girls should have the right to single sex changing rooms, domestic violence shelters, prisons, etc. Sometimes it feels like living in a parallel universe.

I know you're not saying that. Just venting really,

😘 that'll teach me to idly scroll. I didn't realise there was so much anger here.

Why don't you want to properly understand the issues?

It's not harassment. It's healthy challenge of someone who works with vulnerable people and needs to be reflective of their values and how that impacts their practice.

To be fair to the OP, I think she has taken on some points