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.

The fact that you went to HR and the Union suggests you were hoping for enforcement of the rainbow badges.

Why can’t we just make them wear the badges whatever they think?

I can't see how any vulnerable young people would be reassured by a HR jackboot stamping rainbow badges over everyone. That kind of thing would make me more, not less resentful

That shows how little you know or respect people’s faiths.

@whatishappening123 start with the “GC idea” that this man doesn’t belong in spaces where women are vulnerable because genderists like some of the people on this thread think he does

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5420053-barbie-kardashian-is-being-released?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Why can’t you just use your words to tell young people you are a safe space?

Reported

Why do you think it is appropriate to tell children that rainbow badges makes someone safe? Do you know what safeguarding is?

Yeah I hadn't considered this before. As we are going on, I'm thinking neutrality is better and as people have said, workplaces don't need to be politicised. I don't think.our company was ever doing this in a nefarious way. I'd like to think they were responding to a need to make young people feel safe. I am torn though. There's a good advert called "it's more than a rainbow" or something like that which I thought was good and summed up how I feel. I do take the point that work should be contracted, you are expected to behave respectfully. You don't need to declare it with a badge. Lots to think about on here definitely. Part of the reason I (mostly) love MN as you can discuss quite in depth stuff over a number of days and if you are coming on for a discussion, not a row, it can be great

🤨
It the staff dont want to properly regulate a HCP they should not claim to be carrying out any role of oversight or control 🚩 on the group of HCP because to a REPUTATION RISK for the whole organisation when (IRL its never an if) a HCP harms someone.

Some Joined-up-thinking is needed 🤨

I don’t want to wear a rainbow name badge and that shouldn’t be enforced onto me!!! That does not mean I’m anti LGBT. Personally I don’t support the T and that ought to be respected as it’s an ideology not a sexual orientation.

Yes I hadn't really considered this at any depth before this thread tbh
I'm finding the linked threads and articles on this useful to get a wider research base to see what I think

so you don't have or want sex - I mean who cares and why tell people, really don't give a monkeys if you want sex, have sex, don't want sex, don't find sex or anyone sexual - just get on with it - we don't care. Of course you exist even if you make tiresome and boring uninteresting statements about sex and you non interest it it - so bloody what

That’s good that you’re open to other perspectives, and I applaud that

Yeah I really am , despite PP attacks.
I've got friends and family, but I actually really enjoy discussing stuff online as it often goes a bit deeper.

I think introducing the rainbow badge in the first place was the problem- it probably felt coercive to some staff members, and has now given rise to this concern you feel as those staff members exercise the freedom to stop making this political statement at work. Be assured that declining to
endorse LGBTQetc. activism in its current sexist, dogmatic iteration, or disliking political symbolism of any kind in the workplace, doesn't mean your colleagues are hateful.

I kind of agree with this.

I guess what the poster is saying is it’s about representation.

Personally, I think it’s unrealistic to represent every single group and intersectionality out there. We are a heterogeneous species us human beings…

The problem is when an organisation seeks to expand their roles, or integrate an ideology, that conflicts with their original purpose.

This is interesting and probably shows in me a blind spot as I embarrassingly never even considered this. I just assumed "rainbow good and everyone thinks so"

Good on you OP.