Girlguiding – which has around 300,000 UK members across its Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers groups – has said it will now only allow those recorded female at birth to join.
It said the decision – which comes almost eight months after the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex – had been made after “detailed considerations, expert legal advice and input from senior members, young members”, its council and board of trustees.
Trans rights campaigners have claimed Girlguiding was “being forced to exclude young trans girls by adults with bigotries and institutional power”.
It is understood that while the decision to restrict new membership is in place from Tuesday, there will not be immediate changes for current young members, with further information on that to be given next week.
Members range in age from four to 18 and Girlguiding said it does not collect gender identity information and therefore does not have numbers for how many might be affected by the rule change.
A joint statement was published on Tuesday by Girlguiding’s chairwoman of trustees, Denise Wilson, its chief executive Felicity Oswald and its chief guide Tracy Foster.
It said the Supreme Court ruling meant “many organisations across the country have been facing complex decisions about what it means for girls and women and for the wider communities affected”.
The trio said: “From today (December 2), trans girls and young women, and others not recorded female at birth, will no longer be able to join Girlguiding as new young members.
“Girlguiding believes strongly in inclusion, and we will continue to support young people and adults in marginalised groups. Over the next few months, we will explore potential ways to champion this value. A new task force will look at ways to do this, in partnership with members.
“While Girlguiding may feel a little different going forward, our core aims and principles will always endure and we remain committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect, particularly those from marginalised groups that have felt the biggest impact of this decision.”
The statement said Girlguiding remained “committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect, particularly those from marginalised groups that have felt the biggest impact of this decision”.
Trans rights campaigners TransActual described the policy change as “yet another horrible act of violence against the most vulnerable trans people”.
Tammy Hymas, policy lead for TransActual, said: “It’s awful that an organisation, which would happily be inclusive and has been for many years, is being forced to exclude young trans girls by adults with bigotries and institutional power. There is no problem being solved here, only harm being done.
“Our thoughts are with the young people who may be outed by their exclusion, or lose access to their vital social groups and support networks.”
Organisations are still awaiting new transgender guidance produced by the equalities watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is being assessed by government.
Ministers have had the guidance for three months but have vowed not to “rush” publication of a proposed code of practice which will be used by businesses and other organisations to inform their provision of single and separate-sex services such as toilets and changing rooms.
The guidance requires ministerial approval and would only come into force 40 days after the Government had laid the draft code in Parliament.
