Should the National Trust be handing out rainbow badges to workers?
Some of Ketton-Cremer’s family are outraged by the campaign, calling it a no more than a marketing stunt
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Your support makes all the difference.There can be few people who don’t know that 2017 marks fifty years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England – the anniversary has been honoured by some excellent radio and television documentaries and numerous celebrations in museums and galleries.
The National Trust launched a campaign (and a book) called “Prejudice and Pride”, exploring (in their words) “the LGBTQ heritage of many National Trust people and places … exploring places that have been touched by the sexuality of their inhabitants, workers, owners and guests”. The campaign has proved controversial.
Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer restored beautiful Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk and donated it to the Trust when he died in 1969. Known as Bunny to close friends, Ketton-Cremer was intensely private – but now his double life has been revealed in a film commissioned by the NT for their LGBTQ campaign, with a commentary by Stephen Fry.
The Trust has also ordered volunteers at the Hall to wear rainbow badges while they show visitors round – but when a large group of elderly workers refused, they were told to “take a break” from front of house duties over the busy summer period.
Some of Ketton-Cremer’s family are outraged by the campaign, calling it a no more than a marketing stunt designed to attract more visitors to the property. Personally, I choose to visit historic houses because of their architecture – would knowing the owner of Felbrigg was gay make much difference to my appreciation of his exquisite taste?
Then there’s the question of ethics – not those of the disgruntled badge-refuseniks, but the surviving family members who were not consulted by the NT. Personally, I think the rainbow badges are crass – I’d like to think that were Ketton-Cremer alive to comment, he would feel that his contribution to our rich cultural and social mix was worth more than a silly badge.
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