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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| National Trust reverses decision enforcing use of gay pride badges | National Trust reverses decision enforcing use of gay pride badges |
| (1 day later) | |
| Trust lifts ban on volunteers carrying out public-facing duties at Norfolk stately home if they refuse to wear badges | |
| Jamie Grierson | |
| Sat 5 Aug 2017 14.28 BST | |
| Last modified on Sat 5 Aug 2017 17.53 BST | |
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| 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 gay pride badges. | 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 gay pride badges. |
| Staff at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk were offered behind-the-scenes roles after saying they were uncomfortable wearing symbols and lanyards for a Prejudice and Pride event to mark 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality. | Staff at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk were offered behind-the-scenes roles after saying they were uncomfortable wearing symbols and lanyards for a Prejudice and Pride event to mark 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality. |
| The move 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. | The move 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. |
| After concerted pressure in the rightwing press in support of those who refused to wear the badges, the National Trust has capitulated and now says wearing the badges is “optional and a personal decision” for volunteers and staff. | After concerted pressure in the rightwing press in support of those who refused to wear the badges, the National Trust has capitulated and now says wearing the badges is “optional and a personal decision” for volunteers and staff. |
| A spokesman for the land and home conservation charity said: “We remain absolutely committed to our Pride programme, which will continue as intended, along with the exhibition at Felbrigg. | A spokesman for the land and home conservation charity said: “We remain absolutely committed to our Pride programme, which will continue as intended, along with the exhibition at Felbrigg. |
| “However, we are aware that some volunteers had conflicting personal opinions about wearing the rainbow lanyards and badges. 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, we are aware that some volunteers had conflicting personal opinions about wearing the rainbow lanyards and badges. 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.” |
| 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”. | 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”. |
| “Relating specifically to the Prejudice and Pride programme, we do recognise that some volunteers may have conflicting personal opinions,” she said. “ However, whilst volunteering for the National Trust we do request and expect individuals to uphold the values of the organisation.” | “Relating specifically to the Prejudice and Pride programme, we do recognise that some volunteers may have conflicting personal opinions,” she said. “ However, whilst volunteering for the National Trust we do request and expect individuals to uphold the values of the organisation.” |
| Dame Helen Ghosh, the director general of the National Trust, had defended the original decision in a letter to Saturday’s Daily Telegraph. | Dame Helen Ghosh, the director general of the National Trust, had defended the original decision in a letter to Saturday’s Daily Telegraph. |
| “Like many heritage organisations, we have taken the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality to tell the story at a dozen or so of our properties of the people who lived there and whose personal lives were outside the social norms of their time,” she said. | “Like many heritage organisations, we have taken the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality to tell the story at a dozen or so of our properties of the people who lived there and whose personal lives were outside the social norms of their time,” she said. |
| “At Felbrigg, the generosity of Robert Ketton-Cremer in giving the house to the trust was the result in part of the fact that he had never married and had no heirs to inherit. | “At Felbrigg, the generosity of Robert Ketton-Cremer in giving the house to the trust was the result in part of the fact that he had never married and had no heirs to inherit. |
| “The film and exhibition about his life are sensitive, respectful and celebratory. We believe deeply that our purpose is to make everyone feel welcome at our houses as our founders wanted.” | “The film and exhibition about his life are sensitive, respectful and celebratory. We believe deeply that our purpose is to make everyone feel welcome at our houses as our founders wanted.” |
| The National Trust | |
| LGBT rights | |
| Norfolk | |
| news | |
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