The release of an LGBTQ-themed poppy badge has triggered a heated debate in the UK ahead of Remembrance Day.
In the lead-up to the memorial day on November 11, which honors armed forces members who have died in combat, the Royal British Legion (RBL) has listed a poppy brooch with a pride flag attached to it as part of its annual fundraising campaign, the Poppy Appeal.
The RBL is a charity that helps serving and former members of the UK’s armed forces. The Poppy Appeal is held every year during the remembrance period.
The badge featuring the iconic red poppy with the multicolored flag “symbolises support for our LGBTIQ+ community who are a vital part of our Armed Forces past and present,” states the description on the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Shop website.