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.

An employer should never have made it mandatory in the first place. That’s illegal.

I wouldn't wear a rainbow badge, If that was my only option I'd be speaking to my union rep pretty sharpish. However if it is an option as opposed to a standard one then I see no issue with that. But it shouldn't be the only one,

Otherwise where does this stop? Tell Jewish colleagues they must wear a yellow star? madness

This is actually reminding me of my friend. She's very deep down the 'free palastine' rabbit hole and because I don't comment 'free palastine' on videos 50+ times a day I must be FOR all the violence and death.

I'm not. Obviously.

It sounds like whoever explained the new badge system as for “staff who do not agree with LGBT+” is the problem. I would be astounded if that is what choosing the red badge is intended to mean. Surely it is just a neutral badge for those who don’t want a political statement in their work badge or have concerns about the way the untrammelled pushing of trans rights impacts women and don’t want to be seen to support that.

imo the flag had no place on work badges in the first place.

On this thread the punishment is that the young LGB (leaving out the T) know - or assume - that they are not supported by those wearing red badges.

Just to let you know - in case you want to engage in a conversation with me (which it sounds as though you might) that I am going back to work and won't be able to respond.

These people are at work. They should have neutral name badges. No one should have to signify their support for any specific group or be targeted for not doing so. The only requirement should be that they treat service users equally and within the confines of the law.

I think the OP is confusing the situation here.

It’s not a punishment to realise you’re not the centre of the universe.

That doesn't count as punishment. Not in a million years.

How am I discriminating against anyone by refusing to wear a badge?

OP, do you think forcing someone who is genuinely anti the alphabet mob to wear a rainbow badge means that they will magically change their mind?

Or do you actually just trust that whatever their ideology, the people wearing the badges can be trusted to be professionals without a forced fake show of solidarity with one small group?

How do you think vulnerable gender critical young people feel when they see all those rainbow badges and nobody who might understand them?

Some people, no matter their sexual preferences or ideology, are not joiners and don't want to be made to walk around with an advert for a set of beliefs that may or may not be theirs around their necks.

Isn't there room for everyone in the organisation you work in?

This is the problem: you're interpreting people who've chosen a one-colour badges as "anti-LGBT." Your thinking is somewhat extreme and black & white, as well as a bit coerceive.

But just as there are rainbow badges why aren't there badges in pink, for those who support the battle against male violence against women & girls (MVAWG) or a purple white & green badge or lanyard in support of women's rights?

I agree with this

But ‘LGBT+’ is a homophobic movement that denies same sex attraction.

I don’t think you understand the meaning of the word punishment.

You are not, but unfortunately the world has gone mad. It started with clapping during lockdown and now it’s gone insane

Yep, I would be interested to see if your workplace offer a badge to highlight age discrimination, racism, sexism, pregnancy discrimination, marriage discrimination, religious freedom, disability discrimination. Sounds like it’s a bit one sided and I think you should question why there are no options to support other discriminated groups.

Or maybe just don't have any silly badges at all

I actually think it's ok that people have the choice and I'm pro LGBT+. I don't think making people wear one that feel strongly against it is helpful. I don't think making them wearing it will change their viewpoint and will probably just make them feel irritable and kept down. If most people are wearing them. It will encourage discussion anyway and they might change their viewpoint over time. But for the moment, how they feel is how they feel. And the people who do wear them can do so with pride 😀

I’d be finding my RBG “I dissent” badge.

work places shouldn’t include any political or philosophical alliance - full stop. LGB TQ+ includes a philosophy which is anti woman, it has caused women to lose jobs and be threatened with violence inc rape and death..so I would have been highly pissed off being made to wear a turkeys voting for Christmas badge in the first place.

it’s time to get rid of all this performative work place crap..all of you should have a red badge and just treat everyone with respect

@gorlomi

I’m on Team Just-Be-Professional-At-Work. I am sick of badges. Just do a good job and be considerate and thorough.

”It was said”? By who? No company has put it in writing that the reason they offer red badges as an option is in case “you are against lgbt”. It just didn’t happen.

FWIW I’m not wearing a rainbow either, don’t care what anyone thinks about that.

Companies need to stop with badges other than corporate logo and the staff name and department, anything else is unnecessary.

I’d choose the red badge because I like red.

#deep