Girlguiding has instructed transgender girls to exit the organization by September 6, in line with the decision made in December to limit membership to girls and young women. This policy shift, described as a challenging choice by Girlguiding, followed the Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 affirming that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 pertain to biological females.
Girlguiding stated that since the court ruling, they have conducted thorough evaluations with expert legal guidance and feedback from key stakeholders, including senior and young members, council, and trustees. Transgender girls who are current members are allowed to remain until September 6, while any trans girl or trans woman holding a women-only volunteer position must transition to a role open to both genders by the specified date.
The organization emphasized that the timeframe leading up to September 6 provides affected members and their families with the opportunity to plan, seek assistance, and determine the most suitable departure timing within this window. Girlguiding’s membership spans from four to 18 years old, totaling approximately 300,000 participants in Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers, alongside 80,000 volunteers. Notably, Girlguiding does not gather data on gender identity within its membership, thus lacking specific figures on those impacted by this policy adjustment.
