National Trust volunteers have been relegated to back office roles after they refused to wear LGBT pride lanyards in protest over the Trust’s "outing" of a former Lord of the manor.
Volunteers at Norfolk’s Felbrigg Hall were asked to wear the rainbow-coloured badges and lanyards to celebrate the last lord of the manor, Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer, who - it was revealed last month - was gay.
But ten volunteers refused to wear lanyards telling The Telegraph that Mr Wyndham Ketton-Cremer was "intensely private" and should not have been "outed".
Mike Holmes, a National Trust volunteer for 13 years said that those in revolt were not homophobic, but believed the Trust had strayed beyond its role as protector of the country’s heritage.
“The National Trust looks after grounds and buildings, they do not have the right to research their benefactor’s private lives to suit the needs of a marketing campaign. It’s abhorrent," he continued.
National Trust chiefs told volunteers in an email seen by the Telegraph that those who did not wish to wear the pride memorabilia would not be allowed to meet and green the public in the house's 17th century hall.
Annabel Smith, head of volunteering and participation development at the Trust, said volunteers sign up to the organisation's "founding principles" of promoting equality of opportunity and inclusion.
"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.
Mr Wyndham Ketton-Cremer died in 1969, aged 63, two years after homosexuality was decriminalised.
He was featured in a short National trust film last month narrated by Stephen Fry called ‘The Unfinished Portrait’. The film revealed Mr Wyndham Ketton-Cremer's sexuality, which was known only by close friends.
The campaign is part of the Trust’s Prejudice and Pride season, that marks 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalised.
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