TRANSGENDER girls in Jersey have been banned from joining girlguides after the national organisation made a sweeping policy change earlier this week.
The move by Girlguiding UK – Girlguiding Jersey’s governing body – comes following a landmark decision made by the Supreme Court in April, that defined sex as biological in equality law.
The announcement, which came into effect on Tuesday, means that none of its groups will now accept members who are biological boys that identify as girls or any person born male at birth. It has been confirmed to the JEP that the policy will be extended to the Island.
Girlguiding has been around for over a century in Jersey. It aims to develop life skills, leadership and confidence in girls from ages four to eighteen.
Hundreds of thousands of girls take part in its various activity groups including Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers across the UK.
The sudden policy change has caused heated division between trans and women’s rights campaign groups in the UK. Some have called the move positive for biological women and girls, while others see the decision as counteractive to inclusion.
Although the news affects new members, Girlguiding Jersey said no immediate changes will be seen for current girl guides or adult volunteers.
Helen Barette, the local group’s deputy chief commissioner for Girlguiding South West England, expressed her sympathies in what she said was “a difficult time” for members.
The national policy change was communicated in a joint statement by the chair of trustees for Girlguiding UK Denise Walton, the charity’s chief executive Felicity Oswald and chief guide Tracy Foster.
They said that following April’s Supreme Court ruling “many organisations across the country have been facing complex decisions about what it means for girls and women and for the wider communities affected”.
The “difficult” decision, they said, came from “detailed considerations”, alongside expert legal advice and input from members and Girlguiding’s Council.
The statement continued: “The Board of Trustees for Girlguiding has reached the difficult decision that going forward membership of Girlguiding will be restricted to girls and young women, as defined in the Equality Act (2010).
“Trans girls and young women, and others not recorded female at birth, will no longer be able to join Girlguiding as new young members.”
Biological girls who identify as boys are still able to join.
Girlguiding UK said that in the coming months a new taskforce will be launched to support young people in marginalised groups.
The statement concluded: “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.”
Following the policy change, a local guides leader, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed their disappointment in the new rules.
They said: “I believe that Girlguiding should be a safe space for all girls and young women and that young members should be accepted for who they are no matter what they were assigned at birth.
“Everyone deserves the right to be treated fairly and with compassion.”
