Pride badge fallout forces the National Trust to backtrack
A GRASSROOTS revolt has been credited with forcing the National Trust to change its policy on making volunteers wear gay pride badges.
The 48-hour backlash saw at least 240 members rip up their subscriptions.
A letter from the trust’s outgoing head, Dame Helen Ghosh, defending the rule on the rainbow ID badges – to mark the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality – appeared in a national newspaper on Saturday.
But within hours, the organisation rowed back on the diktat amid growing public pressure. It refused to say if Dame Helen was one of those ‘close to the issue’ who had reversed the decision.
A National Trust spokesman admitted 240 members got in touch on Thursday and Friday to say they were ‘not happy’ about the policy, which meant elderly volunteers were forced to wear gay pride lanyards or had to move to a backroom role.
The trust did not provide figures for any further cancellations before Saturday’s climbdown,
Josie Gallagher, 81, was one of more than 70 volunteers at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk believed to be in revolt over the policy, which came as part of the trust’s Prejudice and Pride celebration.
Of the 12 properties involved, Felbrigg was the only one to impose rainbow lanyards on staff.
Mrs Gallagher, who resigned after 24 years with the trust, said: ‘We really do appreciate all the support we have had... Fighting an organisation like the National Trust, and refusing to carry out its instructions is quite difficult. We have no issue with gay rights... but it is about being told what to do.’
Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday, Dame Helen said those who did not wish to wear gay pride lanyards could ‘step back’ from volunteering or take a backroom role. But only hours later, the National Trust issued a statement saying: ‘We are aware that some volunteers had conflicting, personal opinions about wearing the rainbow lanyards and badges.
‘We are therefore making it clear that the wearing of the badges is optional and a personal decision.’
However, the trust – which was also criticised over its decision to out Felbrigg’s former owner, the poet Robert Wyndham KettonCremer, as gay – stands accused of failing to completely back down.
In a letter to volunteers, it said: ‘We want staff and volunteers to choose what they feel most comfortable with when it comes to the wearing of lanyards and badges, but ask that you remain committed to the Prejudice and Pride programme, sharing the story of the last squire.’