Trans girls have been barred from joining Girlguiding, a move the charity says is driven by legal advice but which has already prompted widespread criticism and concern from LGBTQ+ communities and former members.
Girlguiding has announced that trans girls will no longer be able to join its youth groups, marking a sharp u-turn away from a policy that had been in place for several years and widely seen as a step toward greater inclusion. The change follows legal advice taken in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling that defined women in the Equality Act strictly by “biological sex”.
The organisation confirmed that new members must now have been recorded female at birth in order to take part in Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. Current trans members will not be removed, and adults of any gender can continue to volunteer. The charity framed the decision as a reluctant response to the legal environment, though the wording of the announcement has left many families, former members and LGBTQ+ groups feeling that a once inclusive space is being pulled back in ways that harm the very children it has historically aimed to support.
Senior Girlguiding figures said the organisation had faced “complex decisions” after the ruling earlier this year. They said the board had considered legal advice, internal feedback and the Supreme Court judgement before concluding that the Equality Act definition now required a narrower membership policy. The leadership stressed that it remained committed to treating all young people with “dignity and respect” and promised new work to support marginalised groups, though details of what that work might look like remain limited.
The move has prompted a strong public response. A petition led by former member Jenny Thompson attracted thousands of signatures in its first day, with supporters saying that trans children deserve the same sense of belonging and safety as any other child. Many have highlighted how Girlguiding has long been viewed as a supportive environment for those who struggle to find community elsewhere, and that removing access for trans girls undercuts that reputation. Critics have pointed out that there is no evidence base for the fears often used to justify these bans.
Girlguiding had previously defended its inclusion policy when it first came under attack in 2018, stating clearly that being trans did not make someone a safeguarding risk. That position mirrored what youth workers, equality organisations and safeguarding specialists have said for years. Despite that, the charity recently came under renewed pressure through legal action brought by a parent who opposed the presence of trans girls and trans women in its groups. No incidents of harassment linked to trans members have been recorded within Girlguiding.
The legal terrain is now deeply uncertain for many charities, schools and community groups across the UK. The Supreme Court judgement has unleashed a wave of policy reviews, with some organisations moving quickly to restrict trans people’s access to gendered spaces and others waiting for clarification that has yet to arrive. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is expected to issue an updated code of practice, but experts in equality law have warned that current interpretations circulating in public debate risk overstating what the ruling actually requires. They argue that the law allows organisations to accommodate trans people unless there is a clear and proportionate reason not to, and say blanket bans misunderstand the basic purpose of the Equality Act.
Trans young people already face high levels of exclusion, isolation and bullying, and youth groups can be a lifeline. Many former Girlguiding members have spoken about the confidence and friendships they gained from taking part in activities that encouraged teamwork, leadership and independence. Those urging the organisation to reverse course say that shutting out trans girls removes access to a formative experience that has shaped generations of young people.
Girlguiding says it intends to keep listening to its community while it works through the implications of the ruling. For now, the decision stands, and the repercussions are being felt by families across the country who had trusted the charity to put children’s welfare at the centre of its decisions. Trans rights advocates, youth workers and former members say the organisation still has time to rethink its approach and reaffirm its values through action rather than legal caution. Whether that happens will depend on how the debate evolves in the coming months and whether the promised taskforce leads to real change.
