Wear Our Gay Pride Badge Or You Can't Meet The People, The National Trust Tells It's Volunteers.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4759510/National-Trust-tells-workers-wear-pride-badge-face-ban.html

Isn't this taking things a little too far?

[TigerLady]

If something offends you that much then you wouldn't volunteer, surely?

[hereIam]

Nobody would make me wear a badge I didn't want to and I wouldn't wear this badge.

[ludwig]

// They can Ludwig but sometimes when an organisation like the NT is hijacked by the right-on brigade that deviates from the core purpose of the charity you need to make a stand.//

I agree, but I see withdrawing ones unpaid labour as making a stand.

[youngmafbog]

//You have just shown your colours with the normal comment!!//

At present, although clearly you would like it not be be Isaly, this is a free country.

It may also surprise you to learn that making laws does not change peoples attitudes, only time and education will do that. This drip drip of homosexuality and LBGT will not fix things, all it will do is stir up hatred amongst those who do not agree.

What you need are laws to stop anyone being persecuted for being gay and absolutely no discrimination; but done quietly. Acceptance will then follow in time as those not in agreement will not feel it is being forced upon them.

[Ellipsis]

> I rather wonder why it's an issue at all.

Perhaps an example would help. Suppose you were of a very religious persuasion and, even though you accepted that society was more tolerant of LGBTQ rights, you personally were not a supporter because it conflicted with your religious views. You had been a volunteer and stalwart supporter for NT for many years and had given many hours of your time freely to the organisation because you strongly supported its remit to be "a charity that works to preserve and protect historic places and spaces - for ever, for everyone" - including people like you. Perhaps then you would take issue with it.

[youngmafbog]

Agreed Ludwig, but that only works if the cloth ears at the top actually realise why you are withdrawing your free labour.

In addition many NT members and volunteers are passionate about the core reason the trust was setup. Diverting like this for the political or other ideals of one or two at the top needs to be addressed loudly. Just withdrawing labour would not do that and many would feel they are letting the Trust down in general when I suspect the majority do not agree with the couple at the top and their personal agenda's.

[Old_Geezer]

If the cause was one that was personally supported then it probably wouldn't occur there was a problem until someone pointed it out; at which point of course one would realise how wrong it was.

Of course the wearing of a support item indicates personal approval, especially when it has nothing to do with the company you are working for: it's nonsense to suggest otherwise. If there was no personal approval they'd refuse to be shoving that issue down the public's throat. A point underlined by the fact that it's questionably/arguably voluntarily given one can choose to be discriminated against instead.

[maggiebee]

From reading quite a few of the posts, it would appear that most are against the compulsory wearing of Gay Pride badges. Perhaps if you all protested directly to the National Trust they might take notice.

[jno]

Ellipsis, I meant a public issue. People can leave jobs they don't like or agree with, any time. It doesn't normally make the news when it happens.

[Ellipsis]

> The NT's prevarication over hunting perturbs me. This, however, does not, and I rather wonder why it's an issue at all.

OK, because you put "me" in the first part of your sentence, I took the second part to mean an issue for other individuals.

Why is this an issue? It's rather like the BA desk lady who was told she could not wear a crucifix to work was a public issue. In this case, NT volunteers are being told the equivalent of they MUST wear a crucifix to work. They are being told that they must express support for something that they may not necessarily believe in, on an issue that's far outside the remit of the NT, an organisation that receives a lot of public funding. That's why it is a wider issue.

[woofgang]

so are people against the compulsory wearing of gay pride badges or against the compulsory wearing of badges full stop?

[venator]

Isn't it against the employment rules in many places to display religious or similar badges? The requirement would certainly offend any Muslim volunteers.

[DaisyNonna]

More than a little!
Wonder how long the National Trust could continue without the volunteers
Am sure there are many who would be happy to wear the badge if not coerced

[EcclesCake]

NT has backed down, the badge/lanyard are now optional.

[vulcan42]

Perhaps the NT has realised you do not upset your volunteers when they do 90% of the essential work. A volunteer can withdraw their work at anytime with no consequences to themselves, it could cause havoc to the recipient of their labour.

[Peter Pedant]

All the volunteers refused to wear them
and the NT backed down ( 5pm Radio 4 )

as one of my colleagues said at work
" if we all refuse to do X then they cant fire us all"
shows the strength of group action

[Mamyalynne]

Good to hear.

[Old_Geezer]

Against the compulsory wearing of badges unrelated to the function of the organisation, the wearing of which is being forced due to some management individual's hobby horse that they think they can force everyone to show support for.