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.

Given the nature of your organisation’s work, I suspect the Red wearers are just not happy to support Trans ideology.
It’s been handled terribly, whatever the reasoning though.

I have a gay son and even he thinks the whole rainbow thing is overdone. The way he lives his life is completely normal - he neither wants nor needs anyone virtue signalling on his behalf.

I think it should always have been ‘neutral’. People have different opinions and values, I abhor homophobia but equally think it’s ok not to be comfortable with the rainbow symbol if your values don’t align with the LGBT community. I don’t think this should ever be forced.

I’m a lecturer and our uni has rainbow lanyards amongst other choices, I do have a rainbow one but also just a purple one with the uni name. I wear either or, not really fussed but at least it’s a choice.

This. I think you have got the wrong end of the stick about the red badge

I agree. This is the most pragmatic resolution. No one can be offended then.

I’d be getting one in suffragette colours.

Fuck sake. Get rid of all the silly coloured badges and everyone have a proper, normal white and black name badge.

FFS, What's wrong with a plain badge with name and maybe company logo? Same with lanyards - company standard only or don't use one, no rainbows, slogans or a hundred badges pinned to it.

I think a neutral option should always have been provided - I’m the B in LGBT and would not have been upset at an opt-in model (others may disagree). There are plenty of reasons why others might not want to have it on their name badge. But agree, not sure why there should be an ‘anti-LGBT’ option. Like, what the heck is that?! “I’m actively against non-hetero relationships”, doesn’t feel like the best flex, especially when you’re working with vulnerable people who just want to be accepted.

Same with mine, and a lot of her friends agree. Not everyone who is gay wants to wear or display a flag all the time. They are people, not billboards.

I can’t believe you’ve gone to hr and union about this to bully people into complying. Atrocious behaviour.

Are you quite sure the red is to signify they're "anti-lgbt"? Or is it just red 🙄

I recently had a pick of lanyards, this week in fact. I chose a blue one over the pride flag option. I am certainly not anti-anything, I just don't do flags and don't feel the need to visually represent my beliefs on my body. Not everyone wants to adorn themselves with flags and badges to communicate to others what their opinions are.

I detect a slight shift away from virtue signalling gestures in the workplace. Its slow and careful, but detectable.

I don't wear any pride paraphernalia in June despite my company encouraging it. I am not "against" LGBT people at all. I am not against every cause or movement I don't openly support. Plus, I would rather support the LGBT community through my actions than with a name badge.

Furthermore, some organisations seem to have self-appointed hegemony in these things. I don't support the progress flag and I don't support BLM and I won't wear their flags.

That's awful

Yanbu at all x

Sounds more like you're pissed off everyone is not doing what you expect them to. Were you one of the people suggesting the rainbow badge?

I wouldn't wear a rainbow badge, same as I don't put my pronouns on my email signature.

It's wrong to make people wear a badge that fundamentally goes against their own scientific beliefs. Wearing a badge should be entirely optional. After all no one makes you wear the red badge. By making all staff wear the rainbow badge the organisation would be taking away their rights of free thought.

I’m bisexual myself, and my brother, along with many of my close friends are gay or lesbian. None of us would be caught dead wearing a rainbow badge or lanyard.

It’s precisely because you work with vulnerable young people that I wouldn’t wear the rainbow badge.

I agree, it should be neutral. I don't think staff should have had to wear a badge with a rainbow on it originally. Just as they shouldn't have to state their religious or political preferences.

If this is real, which i highly doubt, post pics of the badges.

I wouldnt wear a rainbow badge at all, but also wouldnt choose to wear a badge openly opposing it. Id want a plain badge.

This!

Unless you think the rainbow one is ‘anti straights’, then the red one is not ‘anti lgbt’.

Not everyone wants to proclaim a partiality for one group over another.
We are all covered by protected characteristics- our sex, our sexuality, our age… as well as others like gender reassignment, religion, disability that not everyone connects with.

Why would we be signalling support for some and not others?

I hope it doesn't come as a shock, but it's okay for someone to have different ideas to you. Ironically that's the core of the LGBT+ message.

They may well be supportive of LGBT+, but not wish to wear a badge, or they might not wish to support them, it's their choice.

The reality is the LGBT+ community make up around 5% of the population and people may have different priorities in their lives.

Does the red mean they are against LGBT rights? Or is it just a badge that announces nothing to no one. I miss the times when a rainbow was just a rainbow.

I wouldn't want one, not because I'm anti LGB but because I don't agree with the T (and feel those letters signify very different things).

How do you show on your badges that you support those with mental health issues, disabilities, all religions?