Cambridge College replaces 'Progress' flag with its own

[NancyDrawed]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10477719/Pride-row-Keys-College-Cambridge-announces-wont-fly-LGBTQ-flag.html

Perhaps it would have been better if they hadn't flown it in the first place, but I can't argue with their logic:

The College said while it was committed to ending discrimination it felt just flying one flag would avoid having to fly a different standard for every good cause

Predictably, the flag's removal is seen as a betrayal by some students.

Missing the point entirely, but I did like the statement "also known as Keys College" - rather shows the level of research that goes into the articles!

Back on topic, I hope it signals some common sense taking hold again, resisting the need to be seen to support every possible cause.

So there's an LGBTQ history month plus a Pride month? Perhaps that was the nail in the coffin.

@Eggsplanation

So there's an LGBTQ history month plus a Pride month? Perhaps that was the nail in the coffin.

It seems every other day or month is something or other to do with Pride or LGBTQ++++++++++ how anyone is supposed to keep up with all the flag flying and other demands with the added outrage for a perceived slight is a minefield so good on Gonville and Caius for bailing out.

Superb news. At last the people in charge are acting like adults. Well done Gonville & Caius.

It seems obvious that when you fly a flag for one cause you may have to explain why you're not flying a flag for every cause. The neutral position is to not fly flags for any cause and save yourself the headache.

Anthony Bridgen, a queer PhD student at Gonville and Caius, said he was 'bitterly disappointed' at the announcement.
He added: 'This regressive decision is of huge detriment to work to improve access, diversity and equality at Caius over the past years.
'It is symbolic of an entrenched, majority cis male, majority white, majority fusty fellowship who neither know nor want to know about the injustices faced by minorities.'

I read that and thought....hmmm.... I wonder where Anthony Bridgen is on the ol' oppression chart.... (Looks up photo on twitter account) ....... Yup, thought so. 😆

Absolutely FOJN. I like the idea that their own flag unites them all so no need for other flags and that the college has acknowledged that any other flag flying is clearly against impartiality.

On a different note, I have my popcorn ready for the histrionics and my bingo card ready too.

Good. I bloody hate flags of all stripes.

I look forward to neutrality returning to the Bank of England.

Perhaps the fact that there is now an LGBTQ+++ every month, the flag hoisters and visual display employees are having breakdowns. However, there is a point at which overkill rises to the top and sense begins to make its mark

Anthony Bridgen forgot heteronormative in his list of sins.

Good for them. This month my workplace has the flags, and accompanying teaching materials everywhere. These prettily coloured stripes which represent such a misogynistic and homophobic, movement, which shrugs off the harm caused by medication and surgery as it was dandruff. I can't bear it. I've responded with raising issues about safeguarding our young people, and sharing resources telling detransitioner stories, in their own words, and have been chastised for being negative and 'political.' It feels overwhelming and so easy to say the 'wrong thing'. post-trans.com

@FOJN

It seems obvious that when you fly a flag for one cause you may have to explain why you're not flying a flag for every cause. The neutral position is to not fly flags for any cause and save yourself the headache.

KJK has already said that she will be going to her Police HQ (who had the fragrant Helen Belcher present when they hauled up their rainbow flag - I saw the photo) to ask them to fly an Adult Human Female flag for International Women's Day. I wonder what excuse they will give as to why not, when they invariably refuse.

IWD Tuesday 8th March

And ready for the 'why do women get a whole day to themselves? When's International Men's Day?' crowd:

IMD Saturday 19th March

@Rightsraptor

Anthony Bridgen forgot heteronormative in his list of sins.

Maybe that's because actually, the place isn't remotely heteronormative. My DC had a few friends from Caius, apparently the norm for the blokes was to be or claim to be bi. (That was 4-5 years ago so I wouldn't be surprised if queer is now the preferred term). One of them (white, from one of the 'top boys schools') graduated under a female name in a skirt, no signs of anything other than complete warm acceptance and support from the Master and others present. (I watched some of the live-streamed graduation ceremonies as I couldn't attend my DC's).

So - if the college in actuality is, as it should be, supportive of its students of whatever characteristics, why are the activists so bothered about mere symbols, which by their very nature are not fully inclusive?

Do you need Council permission to fly the progress pride flag (or whatever it’s called)? The government guide lists the rainbow flag as not needing consent but not that one.

IWD is now a whole month.

Interestingly, a Caius philosopher was in the news recently for defending free speech:
www.cai.cam.ac.uk/news/dr-ahmed-gives-evidence-parliament-free-speech

And a Caius history professor, who clearly values diversity of opinion (he’s the one who recently caused controversy by using the word ‘eloquent’):
www.spectator.co.uk/article/university-challenge-conservatives-are-now-the-radicals-on-campus

Perhaps they have some influence in the college?

Anthony Bridgen, a queer PhD student at Gonville and Caius, said he was 'bitterly disappointed' at the announcement.
^He added: 'This regressive decision is of huge detriment to work to improve access, diversity and equality at Caius over the past years.
'It is symbolic of an entrenched, majority cis male, majority white, majority fusty fellowship who neither know nor want to know about the injustices faced by minorities^

This made me laugh. Middle class privileged white man studying at one of the world's top universities (ie about as privileged as it's possible to get in the UK) moans because he hasn't got enough privilege or rights already.

KJK has already said that she will be going to her Police HQ (who had the fragrant Helen Belcher present when they hauled up their rainbow flag - I saw the photo) to ask them to fly an Adult Human Female flag for International Women's Day. I wonder what excuse they will give as to why not, when they invariably refuse.

More sunlight.

@Charley50

IWD is now a whole month.

"Imagine a gender equal world" is the first thing you see on the website. This year's theme is #BreakTheBias.

@CaraMocha

Missing the point entirely, but I did like the statement "also known as Keys College" - rather shows the level of research that goes into the articles!

Back on topic, I hope it signals some common sense taking hold again, resisting the need to be seen to support every possible cause.

Well done Gonville and Caius. I did have a laugh at 'also known as Keys'

It'll be 'Magdalene also known as Maudlin' next...

white man studying at one of the world's top universities (ie about as privileged as it's possible to get in the UK) moans because he hasn't got enough privilege or rights

I also got stuck at Keys College! Ffs!

For anyone who is understandably puzzled by the 'Keys' thing -- Caius is pronounced like 'keys' in the name Gonville and Caius. One of those things that make people feel like outsiders!

It seems obvious that when you fly a flag for one cause you may have to explain why you're not flying a flag for every cause. The neutral position is to not fly flags for any cause and save yourself the headache

Exactly.

Its just a flag anyway. Real inclusion is more than just hanging a flag. Work on the invisible but very much present barriers experienced by all the students.

If you spend all your time making sure you are keeping track of amd advertising every cause every day all year round you are not going to have time to deal with the actual issues surely. Not to mention the money. Imagine having to tell a student you can't afford to repair the handle in the accessible toilet because you spent the money on express delivery for the limited edition manatee awareness month flag.

Clare College removed the trans flag that the LGBT+ students union tried to fly last November. I think a lot of the Cambridge colleges and their students are getting sick to the back teeth of these idiots whose sole purpose seems to be disruption.