Gay Pride ad a new 'equality gap'?

Exactly, smileless, because they fear a backlash - fifty years after it has become legal.
That's what gay pride is all about.
That is why the NT has even produced a book about all the gay people involved in the NT.

Nobody should have to fear a backlash nowadays.
His family should be proud.

Are you suggesting that in the future homophobia, anti-semitism, misogyny and other repellent beliefs will be acceptable *M0nica"? Because if so I wouldn't want to be part of a society where they were.

Maybe his family aren't proud, though. Just because many think they should be won't make them so.

We don't actually know, do we?

I had never heard of the chap who lived in that house, what did he do to make his family proud?

It is absolutely nothing to do with him or the family, although some have used that as an excuse (which in my opinion is far worse that 'outing' someone) No one can know how he would have behaved or what he would have wanted because the world today is so different from the one he knew.
The Rainbow badge is a symbol for the gay community
"A symbol of diversity
Finally, the rainbow is a symbol of diversity. Although myths and stereotypes portray all gays and lesbians as having a single, monolithic “agenda”, the reality is that ours is an extraordinarily diverse community. Across all races and cultural backgrounds, across all languages, with or without disabilities, across all religions, our communities continue to flourish.

Sometimes, our own communities are divided between gay and lesbian, between “gay” and “queer”, between those in big cities and those in the suburbs and small towns, between “assimilationists” and those who want to live apart from the mainstream. While diversity poses its challenges, it is also enriching. There are as many opinions as there are people. There is no lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender “lifestyle”, there are only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Millions of us, each one unique. This is our strength.

So, why should we bother?
• Because people are still denied jobs, promotions or denied accommodation because of their sexual orientation.
• Because gay teenagers are disproportionately at risk of suicide.
• Because people are still beaten or murdered for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
• Because we are still made to feel uncomfortable when holding the hand of a partner while walking down the street.
• Because our materials are still censored by the government and banned from schools.
• Because our relationships remain unrecognized in hundreds of federal, state, provincial and territorial laws.

BY CELEBRATING OUR PRIDE TOGETHER, WE REMEMBER OUR PAST, AFFIRM OUR FUTURE AND PROVIDE IMPORTANT VISIBILITY WHICH ADVANCES OUR STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY "
So those who refuse to wear it are undermining these ideals.

The NT has had a change of mind, seems hundreds of members have cancelled their membership in protest over their decision

trisher

Good fewer old farts cluttering up the place!

Charmingly put, Penstemmon! Without the old farts, many NT and English Heritage properties would be short of visitors.

trisher No, of course I am not, and you know that. I am saying that making people afraid to admit to having an opinion that does not agree with the agreed politically correct view is as coercive and as unpleasant as attacking someone because they are gay.

In any society there are always those who go against the norms. In a free society they should be free to query the norms, but not incite hatred or violence against those they do not agree with. Nor should they be coerced into hiding their views for fear of the mob

Penstemon what a narrow-minded and unkind comment. You know nothing about the people who have chosen to resign. They could be any age or of any background and to condemn older people and assign characters to them is, frankly, ageist and on Gransnet, of all places.

The National Trust is highly dependent on volunteers, most of them retired. It could not function without them. It cannot afford to lose any of them.

Members of the Trust cancelled their membership because of the treatment of the volenteers

There are posters on this forum who are members of the NT, an apology would be acceptable Penstemmon

If I want to wear a rainbow badge to support my gay friends and my gay nephew I will - but I do not want anyone to force me to wear one because of the job I do, voluntary or otherwise.

oh my goodness, Penstemmon age does not bring with it intolerance - it is evident in all age groups.

And without old farts these buildings etc would be lost to future generations.

Just catching up with this thread after a busy day. Thank you to those who reassured me that I made some sense ...

Monica:
"Imperfect the mere fact that you felt a need to be transparent about your views, says it all. If we took sexuality, of whatever kind for granted, you would not feel the need to be transparent."

I wholeheartedly agree.

I wasn't very clear in my first post - I feel this thread has helped me to gain clarity for myself for which I am grateful.

I take it that you do not see yourself as 'an old fart' Penstemmon just an 'intolerant of other peoples views fart' then.

trisher,well said ?

* I am saying that making people afraid to admit to having an opinion that does not agree with the agreed politically correct view is as coercive and as unpleasant as attacking someone because they are gay*

MOnica Do you really think this is the case? I'm not saying that it's acceptable that people should be afraid to admit to having an opinion that does not agree with the agreed politically correct view but I really can't agree that this is as coercive and unpleasant as attacking someone because they are gay. I just don't think you can compare these two things. Being gay is not a choice so being attacked for that is an attack on your whole being, your whole self - just not comparable.

This is good.

www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/04/you-must-open-a-gay-venue-in-office-complex-planners-tell-developers

So suppose it wasn't a Rainbow badge but something else, perhaps a "Keep Britain Tidy" badge or a "Help for Heroes" badge or a Campaign to protect Rural England badge would you still refuse to wear it? Because if you would accept any of these but not the Rainbow you are homophobic, no matter what you believe.

Do people who work for the NT wear NT badges?

Yes

Just to let you know I am a NT member AND volunteer. There are a lot of reactionary old farts who are members as well as a lot of open minded older people.

I got caught up in one of these gay pride processions, it was extremely vulgar, people barely dressed and if they were were in the most bizarre and sexually explicit clothes, they looked and behaved offensively. I don't care one jot what two consenting adults do, no one should be ashamed of who they are, certainly not treated any differently from other members of society, but for goodness sake I cannot see the pride in these processions. It is all about sex not people.

As for the badge wearing, let people decide if and when they want to wear any badge, apart from the organisation they work for. As far as I know we don't live in a dictatorship, we have minds of our own.