Good Law Project offers legal support to keep Girlguiding and Women’s Institute trans inclusive

The Good Law Project has pledged to defend Girlguiding and the Women’s Institute (WI) after both organisations said they had been effectively forced to abandon their longstanding commitments to trans inclusion. The move follows mounting pressure, legal threats and confusion stemming from last year’s Supreme Court ruling on the definition of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.

In December, both Girlguiding and the WI announced that they would cease formally including transgender members - a decision each organisation argued was made under duress rather than choice. They cited legal uncertainty triggered by the Supreme Court judgment and escalating pressure from external campaigners advocating for trans exclusion. The fallout has been significant: some WI groups have closed in protest, while Girlguiding has faced demonstrations and the emergence of a breakaway campaign, Guiders Against Trans Exclusion.

The Good Law Project, however, insists the law does not require charities to exclude trans women or girls. The organisation says it has obtained independent legal advice supporting the view that both charities can continue to welcome trans members lawfully if they choose to do so. It also points to recent guidance from the Charity Commission urging organisations not to rush into changing their policies while they await statutory guidance. 

But despite this, the looming threat of costly legal action has left both Girlguiding and the WI feeling compelled to act defensively - an issue the Good Law Project says it aims to remedy. The group has offered to cover all legal costs for both organisations should they opt to maintain their inclusive policies, arguing that no charity should be forced into exclusion simply because it cannot afford to defend itself in court.

The move comes amid a wider national debate over trans rights following the Supreme Court’s ruling on “biological sex”. That decision has already led to high‑profile membership changes and significant controversy across the sector, with campaigners, charity regulators and legal experts divided over its implications.

The Good Law Project is urging supporters to contact Girlguiding and the WI directly, encouraging them to remain inclusive and reminding them that they would not be facing potential legal battles alone. “We want to defend them,” the organisation said, calling attempts to pressure charities into trans exclusion “outrageous”.

The campaign forms part of the group’s broader effort to challenge what it describes as a coordinated push for trans exclusion across the UK, promising to “stand against hate” and help safeguard inclusive spaces for women and girls - including those who are trans.