Rainbow flag idea drawing backlash

POLITICALLY correct defence chiefs have told members of the Australian military to signal they are an “ally” of the LGBTI community by putting a rainbow flag next to their name in the national ADF staff directory.

The latest attempt at “inclusion” comes after the Human Rights Commissioner fired a salvo at defence chiefs saying there were still “pockets of resistance” to “embracing diversity” within defence.

But army veterans warned the rainbow flag attempt at inclusion could backfire by excluding many members of the military who chose not to be a lesbian gay bisexual transgender intersex ( LBGTI) ally.

Defence’s “Diversity and Inclusion Adviser” Thomas Hoffman wrote to members of the military about the “sweet new function” which allowed people to show they are an “LGBTI ally” by putting the rainbow flag next to their name on the Defence Corporate Directory.

“The broad principal ( sic) with workplace allies is that they are visible, supportive people who can act as a POC ( point of contact) should someone have an issue in the workplace,” he wrote last month.

“We are not putting strict rules in place on who is or isn’t an ally because we don’t want to stifle the fantastic, positive and uplifting conversations you know you’ll be having amongst colleagues and peers.”

Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans Association NSW president Bruce Relph said: “This is nuts. Sexuality has no place in the military.

“I respect people in the military because they are good soldiers, not because they have a rainbow next to their name.”

He said there were concerns that not conforming to the rainbow tag could impact on chances for promotion.

The ADF did not respond to requests for comment.