The change follows a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that clarified that references to sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex rather than gender identity. The Equality Act sets the rules under which single sex groups and spaces may exclude the opposite sex, and the court’s April decision confirmed that these protections apply to biological sex specifically.
Girlguiding’s trustees called the move a “difficult decision” made with a “heavy heart.”
The organization, which has about 385,000 members ages four to 18, stated that "From today (2 December) trans girls and young women, and others not recorded female at birth, will no longer be able to join Girlguiding as new young members."
In its announcement, Girlguiding said that no immediate changes will be made for current members and that additional information will be shared as the policy is implemented.
"This is a decision we would have preferred not to make, and we know that this may be upsetting for members of our community," the trustees said. "Girlguiding believes strongly in inclusion, and we will continue to support young people and adults in marginalised groups."
“While Girlguiding may feel a little different going forward, these 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 added.
