Girlguiding and Women’s Institute announce trans bans, citing legal obligations under the controversial Supreme Court ruling.

Two of Britain’s most prominent women’s organisations have confirmed they will exclude trans individuals from formal membership, citing legal obligations under the controversial Supreme Court ruling.

Girlguiding, which has around 300,000 members across its Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers groups, announced on Tuesday that only those recorded female at birth will be eligible to join as new young members. The decision, described as “difficult” by the charity’s leadership, follows months of legal consultation and internal debate after the court clarified that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex rather than gender identity.

The organisation stressed that current members will not face immediate changes, and most adult volunteer roles remain open to all. However, the move has sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ campaigners, who argue it undermines inclusion and harms vulnerable young people. Girlguiding said it will explore ways to support marginalised groups despite the policy shift. 

Trans rights organisation TransActual described the policy change as “yet another horrible act of violence against the most vulnerable trans people”.

Tammy Hymas, policy lead for TransActual, said: “It’s awful that an organisation, which would happily be inclusive and has been for many years, is being forced to exclude young trans girls by adults with bigotries and institutional power. There is no problem being solved here, only harm being done.

“Our thoughts are with the young people who may be outed by their exclusion, or lose access to their vital social groups and support networks.”

Just a day later, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) confirmed that transgender women will be barred from formal membership from April 2026. Chief executive Melissa Green said the decision was taken “with the utmost regret and sadness” but insisted the organisation had “no other choice” if it was to remain compliant with the law. The WI, which has welcomed trans women for more than 40 years, plans to launch new “sisterhood groups” open to all, aiming to maintain fellowship and support for transgender women despite the membership restriction. 

Pro trans NION Women said in a statement: "We are mothers, daughters, friends, colleagues – everyday women who stand together.

"Today, we are deeply saddened that both Girlguiding and the Women’s Institute have been put in a position that has resulted in trans women and girls being excluded from their organisations.

"These are institutions that for years have successfully included trans members as part of their commitment to creating spaces where girls and women can belong, grow, and thrive together.

"We know these organisations are being placed in an impossible position, caught between their values of inclusion and legal pressures following the Supreme Court ruling. We recognise how difficult this is for them.

"But this isn’t the path we should be taking as a country.

"Trans girls and trans women are some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. They face discrimination, exclusion, and harm at rates that should alarm all of us. At a time when they need support and solidarity, they’re instead being shut out of spaces that could offer friendship, community, and belonging.

"We know many women share concerns about safety in women’s spaces, and we understand why – we’ve all navigated a world where we’ve had to be vigilant, where we’ve experienced harassment or worse. That’s why we pay attention to the evidence about where harm actually comes from. Trans women simply aren’t a statistical threat – they’re far more likely to be victims.

"Excluding trans people doesn’t make us safer; it just directs our attention away from the real harm – while causing real harm to people just trying to live their lives.

"Trans girls are girls who deserve the same opportunities we had: to build confidence, make friends, and discover what they’re capable of. Trans women are women who deserve community, dignity, and the chance to participate in the spaces that matter to them.

"Inclusion is not negotiable. Safety and dignity are not a zero-sum game. Every woman and girl deserves a place to belong.

"As women committed to genuine inclusion and protection for all women and girls, we say: Not In Our Name. We will continue to stand with the trans community and their families, and we call on others to do the same. Show your support alongside 65,000 other women by signing and sharing our letter."

Both organisations emphasised that their stance does not alter their belief that transgender women are women, but legal constraints now require membership to be limited to biological females. The announcements come amid wider uncertainty as charities await updated guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission on implementing the court’s ruling.