VETERANS and gay rights campaigners blasted the Royal British Legion yesterday — after it released an £8 Poppy Appeal badge with a controversial “Progress Pride” flag attached.
Furious groups accused the Legion of making a “woke” gesture by coupling the world-famous red poppy with the multi-coloured symbol.
The flag, which references binary, intersex and trans communities and “marginalised groups”, was chosen instead of the traditional rainbow flag, a symbol for homosexual people for decades.
But one critic blasted: “It has nothing to do with Remembrance Day. The poppy badge was already inclusive.”
Another said: “The poppy represents everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice and doesn’t need tampering with.”
Former Royal Marine sergeant major and Falklands veteran Jeff Williams, 67, from Birmingham, added: “Wearing the poppy is about remembering all those who fought irrespective of gender, race and sexuality — it is not a political gesture.
“This is just another pointless and deeply offensive exercise in wokeism.”
Kate Barker, of gay rights group LGB Alliance, insisted: “The Progress Pride flag represents gays and lesbians being pushed out of their own movement by proponents of gender identity ideology.”
Caroline Paige, of Fighting with Pride, added: “This is not disrespecting or replacing the poppy. This is about LGBTQ veterans being seen and acknowledged.”
A Royal British Legion spokesman said: “We consulted LGBTQIA+ members of the Armed Forces community, our LGBTQIA+ staff network and membership branch, and external partners before adopting the Intersex Inclusive flag for the badge.
“It’s widely recognised as the most inclusive symbol for sexual orientation and gender identity.”