Girlguiding, the UK’s major youth organisation for girls, has announced that it will no longer allow transgender girls to join as new members. The decision, effective December 2, 2025, limits membership to “girls and young women” as defined by biological sex under the law. Although current youth members and existing volunteer roles are unaffected, the change marks a clear break from the trans-inclusive policy adopted in 2017.
Leadership framed the shift as a reluctant but necessary response to the legal environment. They cited the recent Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruling that “woman” under the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex, rather than gender identity — a decision that has prompted many organisations to re-evaluate their membership and single-sex space policies. According to the statement released by the charity’s Board of Trustees, the legal conclusion left them no realistic alternative.
Supporters of the move — including groups like Sex Matters — have welcomed this recalibration as the restoration of a girls-only space. Allowing entry based on self-identification has undermined the purpose of a female-only organisation and raised safeguarding and privacy concerns.
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