National Trust Members - over here

[FaazoHuyzeoSix]

On the 5th November, the National Trust will be holding its AGM in Bath. There are some extremely hot topics going to be voted on - everyone who is a National Trust member should use their vote, which is possible digitally and by post for those who can't attend, with remote voting closing on 28th October.

Is anyone able to actually attend the meeting and update us? Sadly I have family commitments that day.

There are a number of candidates standing who oppose the National Trust's recent efforts to put the wealth of their houses in the context of the global suffering and industrial pollution that was caused by the industrialists and traders who created that wealth. Not all of these candidates are entirely clear in what they mean in their brief candidate statements so some reading-between-the-lines is necessary for some. But one candidate Stephen Green is noted for being anti-feminist, anti-vax and anti-gay so I hope most mumsnetter NT members would agree that he's not a great candidate - and will seek out appropriate other candidates from the many names available.

There are also some important motions which will be voted on at the meeting:
Most importantly, that the National Trust should not participate in Pride events. The NT Board are recommending that members vote against this motion with normal koolaid-drinker buzz phrases. I think it's really important to emphasise (and I hope that someone can make this point in-person at the meeting if anyone can attend) that the Board's understanding of Pride is flawed - Pride specifically excludes lesbians who want to be able to define their sexuality as being only attracted to other actual female bodies, with no interest in getting used to having a penis (attached to someone who self-defines as a woman) involved in their love life, and who therefore don't want to have their dating and social events open to "anyone who identifies as a woman". Whilst the person who proposed this motion probably did so with hatred in their heart, the actual matter is more complex and I believe this motion should succeed.

The other motions, about the re-wilding of NT Land, creation of an Ombudsman for the NT, and NT Banking, are not issues about which I intend to comment.

As a lesbian I fully support voting not to participate in Pride. It's a bot of a Norwich Council situation, isn't it? Voting to say that TWAW just as support for trans issues falls off a cliff and people feel more and more confident about speaking out. NT proposing to be represented at Pride just as Mermaids and Stonewall fall apart and Pride's reputation is tarnished.

Can someone intervene from the floor to point out that Mermaids is very closely involved in Pride and is about to become a great scandal? The NT needs to do more due diligence before pushing on with this.

Thanks @pattihews - totally agree but I have no idea what the procedure is for comments from the floor.

What the hell does pride have to do with the NT? Gawd just one place that’s not bedecked in flipping rainbows would be lovely…

NT have been getting training/advice from Stonewall so it's hardly surprising there might be some confusion about Pride.

You can vote remotely for the candidates and instruct the chair as to whether you agree , disagree or abstain from each seperate motion. You do have to read it very carefully, as people put forward proposals and you are voting for or against the response to the motion that the NT recommend (rather than for or against the motion

I assume the National Trust is a charity? If so, it’s bound by its objects in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, unless it’s by Royal Charter. I will have a look of them; but I cannot see what Pride has to do with preserving houses or places of outstanding beauty for the nation?

A charity is not allowed to lobby politically; and while Pride is not a political event (I believe), is it true that some minority groups do see it as political?

1.1 Key points about campaigning and political activity
legal requirement: to be a charity an organisation must be established for charitable purposes only, which are for the public benefit. An organisation will not be charitable if its purposes are political
campaigning and political activity can be legitimate and valuable activities for charities to undertake
legal requirement: however, political campaigning, or political activity, as defined in this guidance, must be undertaken by a charity only in the context of supporting the delivery of its charitable purposes. Unlike other forms of campaigning, it must not be the continuing and sole activity of the charity. (Section 3.5 provides a fuller explanation.)

www.gov.uk/government/publications/speaking-out-guidance-on-campaigning-and-political-activity-by-charities-cc9/speaking-out-guidance-on-campaigning-and-political-activity-by-charities

What I particularly dislike is the "queering" of history. Felbrigg Hall was last owned by a presumably gay man yet the NT go to town on it and use the rainbow Pride flags everywhere.

The Pride flag was invented in the 1970's, it's historically inaccurate to use it to describe gay men prior to that period, particularly as the concept of a gay identity or gay community didn't really exist then in the same way as it does today. They do the same with Alan Turing, and there's no way to know whether these people would associate themselves with the Pride flag or not.

It's another case of looking at history in the context of today, and not of what life was like at the time.

So I guess anyone concerned could ask in what way being represented at Pride, which I think is definitely a political activity, would advance the aims of the NT?