Trans girls banned from joining Girlguiding

The organization that oversees girl guide groups in the UK has announced that it is banning trans girls from joining.

Girlguiding said the move – which means biological boys who identify as girls will not be admitted – is in response to the Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that said gender in equality law meant biological sex.

Trustees say they have made a ‘difficult process’ He said the “decision” would be taken “with a heavy heart” and that there would be further announcements about what it would mean for existing members.

Trans rights organization TransActual said: “There’s no problem being solved here, just damage being done.” Women’s rights charity Sex Matters said Girlguiding had done “the right thing” by making the change.

Around 385,000 girls and young women aged 4 to 18 attend Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers groups in the UK.

Girlguiding said: “From today (2 December) trans girls and young women and others who were not registered as female at birth will no longer be able to join Girlguiding as new young members.”

Girlguiding said there would be no immediate changes for younger members, but more information would be shared next week.

It’s not yet clear how many people the rule change will directly affect, as the organization says it doesn’t collect data on gender identity.

“This was a decision we would have preferred not to make, and we know it may be distressing for members of our community,” the trustees said.

“Girlguiding believes strongly in inclusivity and we will continue to support young people and adults from marginalized groups.”

In UK law, the Equality Act 2010 sets out the rules under which single-sex organizations and spaces can exclude members of the opposite sex.

in April, Supreme Court rules this means biological sexThis means, for example, that a trans man could be excluded from a service aimed at men.

Draft guidelines on how to interpret the law were submitted to the government for consideration by equality watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in September. A leaked copy was reported last week but has not been officially released.

Girlguiding said it made its decision after consultation with members and legal advice. Only biologically female members will now be allowed to participate.

It said: “Girlguiding’s charity documentation states that our members and beneficiaries of our organization are girls and women.”

The organization reportedly took legal action by a parent who felt it had not complied with the law.

Biological girls who identify as male can still participate.

The organization also said that most adult roles are already open to everyone and is “confident that no volunteers will have to leave”.

Other adult roles are already designated as specifically female roles.

Reacting to the decision, Sex Matter CEO Maya Forstater said Girlguiding had done “the right and only thing it had to do”.

“Both girls and boys deserve to have opportunities for adventure and learning, and Girlguiding provides an organization just for girls.”

Tammy Hymas, of trans rights campaigner TransActual, said: “It is appalling that an organization that has welcomed inclusion for many years has been forced to exclude young trans girls.”