Two of Britain’s oldest and most cherished women’s organisations, Girlguiding and the Women’s Institute (WI), have announced that they will soon restrict membership to those recorded female at birth, following a landmark ruling by the UK Supreme Court earlier this year. The decisions, made public within days of each other, have ignited a national debate over the meaning of womanhood, legal compliance, and the future of trans inclusion in single-sex spaces.
On December 2, 2025, Girlguiding, formerly known as the Girl Guides Association, declared that new members "not recorded female at birth will no longer be able to join Girlguiding as new young members." This move comes after the Supreme Court’s April 2025 interpretation of the Equality Act 2010, which clarified that the term “sex” in the law refers to biological sex rather than self-declared gender identity. The ruling, which arose from a legal battle over Scottish gender representation legislation, has since sent ripples through organisations across the UK, forcing many to reconsider their policies on gender inclusion.
The Women’s Institute, a 110-year-old institution with around 180,000 members and a storied history that includes royalty such as the late Queen Elizabeth II among its ranks, announced its own policy change just a day later. Starting April 2026, the WI will no longer accept transgender women as formal members. The organisation’s leadership described the decision as one taken “with the utmost regret and sadness,” underscoring the emotional and ethical complexity of the issue.
Melissa Green, chief executive of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), explained in a statement: “It is with the utmost regret and sadness that we must announce that from April 2026 we can no longer offer formal membership to transgender women. As an organisation that has proudly welcomed transgender women into our membership for more than 40 years, this is not something we would do unless we felt that we had no other choice. To be able to continue operating as the Women’s Institute, a legally recognised women’s organisation and charity, we must act in accordance with the Supreme Court’s judgment and restrict formal membership to biological women only.”
Despite the new restrictions, both Girlguiding and the WI have emphasised their continued commitment to supporting transgender women. The WI plans to launch a national network of local “Sisterhood groups” in April 2026, which will be open to all, including transgender women. These groups, according to Green, will offer monthly opportunities for people to come together, socialise, learn from one another, and share experiences of living as women in the 21st century. “This change is only in respect to our membership policy and does not change our firm belief that transgender women are women,” Green added.
The sudden shift in policy has been met with strong reactions from across the political and social spectrum. Trans rights campaigners have condemned the changes as harmful and exclusionary. Advocacy group TransActual described Girlguiding’s move as “yet another horrible act of violence against the most vulnerable trans people.” Jude Guaitamacchi, founder of the Trans+ Solidarity Alliance, called on the government to provide organisations with clear guidance on how to remain trans-inclusive. “Imagine being a group that has welcomed trans members for generations being told who you can and cannot associate with, regardless of the wishes of the group itself. It’s cruel and a failure of this government to protect human rights, including freedom of association,” Guaitamacchi said, as reported by ITV News.
Girlguiding trustees noted that their decision followed extensive consultations and legal advice, and they stressed that current young members will not face immediate changes. The organisation was reportedly facing a lawsuit from a parent who alleged that Girlguiding was not properly adhering to the law following the Supreme Court’s ruling. The parent’s letter, seen by The Times, argued that the charity’s previous policy created “an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive environment,” particularly in relation to shared facilities and activities.
For the WI, existing transgender members were informed of the change before the public announcement, with assurances that support and fellowship would continue in other forms. The organisation, however, does not hold data on how many of its members are transgender, a point echoed by Girlguiding as well.
The Supreme Court’s April 2025 decision was a pivotal moment. The case revolved around whether someone with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) should be treated as a woman under the Equality Act 2010, specifically in the context of Scottish legislation mandating 50 percent female representation on public boards. In his remarks, Lord Hodge acknowledged “the strength of feeling on both sides” and cautioned against viewing the judgement as “a triumph for one side over another.” He stressed that the law still provides transgender people with protection against discrimination, stating, “The Equality Act gives transgender people protection not only against discrimination through the protected characteristics of gender reassignment, but also against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, and harassment, in substance in their acquired gender.”
Meanwhile, organisations across the UK are awaiting updated guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on the practicalities of transgender inclusion. The EHRC has submitted a draft code of practice to the government, but ministers have so far declined to “rush” its publication. The code, last updated in 2011, is expected to clarify the provision of single- and separate-sex services, such as toilets and changing rooms, in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling. The EHRC wrote to women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson in October, urging a speedy release, warning that some organisations may currently be using unlawful practices. Once approved, the new code will come into force 40 days after being laid before Parliament.
Girlguiding’s policy change, which updated 2018 guidance that had previously allowed transgender girls to join, will affect only new young members, with adult volunteer roles remaining open to all. The WI’s new policy, similarly, restricts only formal membership, while new forms of inclusive fellowship are being developed. Both organisations have stressed that these changes are being made to comply with the law, not out of animosity or a shift in their core values.
As the dust settles, the debate over the definition of womanhood and the boundaries of inclusion in single-sex spaces continues to evolve. For now, Girlguiding and the Women’s Institute are navigating a new legal landscape—one that reflects the complexity of balancing legal compliance, organisational identity, and the lived realities of all women in the UK.
