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Staff at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk were offered behind-the-scenes roles after saying
they were "uncomfortable" wearing multicoloured badges and
lanyards for a "Prejudice and Pride" event marking 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
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- National Trust (@nationaltrust) July 29, 2017 The land
and home conservation charity said on Saturday that wearing
the badges was now "optional and a personal decision" for volunteers and staff.
I was at Felbrigg Hall today and the volunteers all looked perfectly happy wearing their rainbow lanyards _ @nationaltrust website
- Donna Smith (@Dr_DonnaSmith) August 4, 2017 "However, we are aware that some volunteers had conflicting personal opinions about wearing the rainbow lanyards and badges.
50 years after the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, we're exploring our LGBTQ heritage: website pic. The decision came after a new film made by the National Trust revealed that Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer, the hall's last owner who bequeathed it to the nation, was gay. "
Felbrigg Hall (Chris Radburn/PA)
The change followed an announcement on Friday by Annabel Smith, the trust's head of volunteering and
participation development, who said that volunteers uncomfortable with the badges had been offered "the opportunity to take a break from front-facing duties if that's what they would prefer".
She added: "Relating specifically to the Prejudice and Pride programme, we do recognise that some volunteers may have conflicting personal opinions. A trust spokesman said: "We remain absolutely committed to our Pride programme, which will continue
as intended, along with the exhibition at Felbrigg.
That was never our intention. "We are therefore making it clear to volunteers that the wearing of the badge is optional and a personal decision.
"However whilst volunteering for the National Trust we do request and expect individuals to uphold the values of
the organisation. The National Trust has reversed a decision to bar volunteers from public-facing duties at a Norfolk stately home if they refuse to wear rainbow sexual equality symbols. |
