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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Girlguiding - Supreme Court Decision email

518 replies

ProfMummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking · 02/12/2025 14:07

Have just had an email from them...

As the parent of a young member in Girlguiding, following April’s Supreme Court decision relating to sex and gender, we wanted to give you an update. Many organisations across the country have been facing complex decisions about what it means for girls and women and for the wider communities affected, including us.

Girlguiding’s governing charity documents set out that the membership and people who benefit from our organisation are girls and women. In April, the Supreme Court ruled that girls and women are defined in the Equality Act 2010 by their biological sex at birth.

Following detailed considerations, expert legal advice and input from senior members, young members and our Council, Girlguiding’s Board of Trustees has made the difficult decision that Girlguiding must change Girlguiding must change, following the Supreme Court’s ruling.

From today, 2 December, it is with a heavy heart that we are announcing trans girls and young women will no longer be able to join Girlguiding. This is a decision we would have preferred not to make, and we know that this may be upsetting for members of our community.

There will be no immediate changes for current young members but more information will be shared next week.

Most adult roles, including unit helpers, district helpers and administrative support, are already open to all, so we are confident that no volunteers will have to leave the organisation.

Girlguiding believes strongly in our value of inclusion, and we will continue to support young people and adults in marginalised groups. Over the next few months, we'll explore opportunities to champion this value and actively support young people who need us.

You can find our full statement and updated policy on our website.

We are proud to be the UK’s largest youth organisation dedicated to girls and is focused on creating an equal world for girls and young women. For over 100 years, we have been a welcoming space for all girls to have new experiences, support their communities, build friendships and grow their confidence.

While Girlguiding may feel a little different going forward, these core aims and principles will always be the same. We remain committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect, particularly those from marginalised groups that have felt the biggest impact of this decision.

If you have any immediate questions, we have our special support team in place, to give volunteers, parents and carers the best support we can. We are asking Girlguiding HQ, trading and country/region staff to refer any volunteer or parent who has questions about this announcement.

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TheKeatingFive · 04/12/2025 18:23

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:20

Not tarring anyone, but I am reading a lot of anti-trans rhetoric in here. Asking what people are so freaked out about. Sex and gender are complex topics that will not be definitively sorted on mumsnet, obvs…

So these children become teenagers and have overnight stays away.

Do you think it's still fine for a 'transgirl' to be included and to share rooms with the (actual) girls? Is being concerned about that 'anti-trans rhetoric' according to you? Do the parents have a right to know if this is happening, according to yot?

TWETMIRF · 04/12/2025 18:23

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:20

Not tarring anyone, but I am reading a lot of anti-trans rhetoric in here. Asking what people are so freaked out about. Sex and gender are complex topics that will not be definitively sorted on mumsnet, obvs…

Some people think they have a gender, everyone has a sex. Separating by gender is not possible as there are umpteen genders. The law is clear, to use the single sex exemption, it has to be done on sex not gender.

CautiousLurker2 · 04/12/2025 18:22

OneLoftyPombear · 04/12/2025 18:10

No I said for consent to be present the trans woman has to declare this meaning it does give a level of safeguarding etc

No you said:

i believe trans women should be allowed into lesbian bars but I believe it’s a whole other issue around consent if these trans women do not disclose it to cis women. It should be disclosed because it’s part of consent

ie that it does not need to be disclosed to lesbians, only ‘cis’ women have that right.

ProfessorBettyBooper · 04/12/2025 18:21

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:16

she joined guides because her friends asked her too. she’s not particularly bothered anout it being all girls, but likes that it’s empowering girls. her friend’s younger sister is trans and she said she’d be happy for her to join guides as she has identified as a girl from the age of four and very much lives her life “as a girl.”

How does your daughter's friend's brother live 'as a girl'?

Please answer without reference to hair, clothes, activities or things they like that are sexist stereotypes.

TheKeatingFive · 04/12/2025 18:20

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:16

she joined guides because her friends asked her too. she’s not particularly bothered anout it being all girls, but likes that it’s empowering girls. her friend’s younger sister is trans and she said she’d be happy for her to join guides as she has identified as a girl from the age of four and very much lives her life “as a girl.”

Quite aside from the fact that one girl's consent cannot be taken as all girls' consent ...

What on earth does 'living life as a girl' even mean?

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:20

Not tarring anyone, but I am reading a lot of anti-trans rhetoric in here. Asking what people are so freaked out about. Sex and gender are complex topics that will not be definitively sorted on mumsnet, obvs…

spannasaurus · 04/12/2025 18:17

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:16

she joined guides because her friends asked her too. she’s not particularly bothered anout it being all girls, but likes that it’s empowering girls. her friend’s younger sister is trans and she said she’d be happy for her to join guides as she has identified as a girl from the age of four and very much lives her life “as a girl.”

You don't empower girls by allowing boys to join a girls only organisation

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:16

she joined guides because her friends asked her too. she’s not particularly bothered anout it being all girls, but likes that it’s empowering girls. her friend’s younger sister is trans and she said she’d be happy for her to join guides as she has identified as a girl from the age of four and very much lives her life “as a girl.”

CautiousLurker2 · 04/12/2025 18:14

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:04

I’m not sure why I’m posting here. It seems mostly people who are happy that transgirls will be banned from Guides are voicing their excitement over the announcement and displaying their bigotry here. I’m saddened by these voices, but genuinely curious about people’s views, perceptions, and knowledge of the trans community.

My daughter and her friends (ages 11/12) in Girl Guides are saddened by the announcement and will be discussing it with their troop leaders next week. Many parents I know are equally upset that the WI and GG have had to make these statements this week to avoid legal action. Protests and petitions will be forthcoming and the fight for trans rights will continue.

I’d like to ask if and why are you afraid of trans people and what threat you think a transgirl poses to a troop. I’m 50 years old and have known people from all the letters of the LGBTQ+ community most of my life and have not ever felt threatened by them. No one is trying to ‘convert’ heterosexuals or get people to change their gender. Given the current climate of hatred towards trans and gender non-conforming people (stirred up by billionaires, politicians, and the christian right), why would any child, teen, or adult “choose” to be trans? Certainly not to “infiltrate” toilets and girl’s only spaces. These people are marginalised as it is. Heterosexual cisgender men continue to be the biggest threat to each other, women, trans people…

Do any of you know anyone who is trans, non-binary, intersex? Biological sex is not as simple as you’d like it to be. 1.7% of the population is intersex - as common as twins. Approximately 1 in 4500 assigned female at birth women are born without wombs.

Ok, done rambling…

FFS most of us are raising children on the LGBTQ spectrum, are friends, sisters, nieces and cousins of LBG and T people. If you actually read the threads you’d see we have a staggering wealth of experience with the trans youth, with the Tavistock, CAMHS etc. I’ve mopped up the blood, slept on a pullout bed in hospital, been hugged by a TW who completely agrees that things have gone wrong and children need protecting.

Don’t tar us with the brush of your own ignorance.

TWETMIRF · 04/12/2025 18:14

OneLoftyPombear · 04/12/2025 18:10

No I said for consent to be present the trans woman has to declare this meaning it does give a level of safeguarding etc

"Hello room full of people not attracted to males. I am a male who wishes to sleep with you"

Like that?

TheNightingalesStarling · 04/12/2025 18:12

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:04

I’m not sure why I’m posting here. It seems mostly people who are happy that transgirls will be banned from Guides are voicing their excitement over the announcement and displaying their bigotry here. I’m saddened by these voices, but genuinely curious about people’s views, perceptions, and knowledge of the trans community.

My daughter and her friends (ages 11/12) in Girl Guides are saddened by the announcement and will be discussing it with their troop leaders next week. Many parents I know are equally upset that the WI and GG have had to make these statements this week to avoid legal action. Protests and petitions will be forthcoming and the fight for trans rights will continue.

I’d like to ask if and why are you afraid of trans people and what threat you think a transgirl poses to a troop. I’m 50 years old and have known people from all the letters of the LGBTQ+ community most of my life and have not ever felt threatened by them. No one is trying to ‘convert’ heterosexuals or get people to change their gender. Given the current climate of hatred towards trans and gender non-conforming people (stirred up by billionaires, politicians, and the christian right), why would any child, teen, or adult “choose” to be trans? Certainly not to “infiltrate” toilets and girl’s only spaces. These people are marginalised as it is. Heterosexual cisgender men continue to be the biggest threat to each other, women, trans people…

Do any of you know anyone who is trans, non-binary, intersex? Biological sex is not as simple as you’d like it to be. 1.7% of the population is intersex - as common as twins. Approximately 1 in 4500 assigned female at birth women are born without wombs.

Ok, done rambling…

So you are happy for your DD to share open plan changing rooms, sleeping accommodation etc with any male who says they are a girl?

OneLoftyPombear · 04/12/2025 18:10

CautiousLurker2 · 04/12/2025 17:53

So lesbian women are entitled to a lesser degree of honesty and safeguarding protection than non-lesbians? (NB the lesbians may or may not also describe themselves as Cis, by the way.)

The homophobia is strong in this one.

Edited

No I said for consent to be present the trans woman has to declare this meaning it does give a level of safeguarding etc

WhamBamThankU · 04/12/2025 18:09

Has any trans person given an actual reason as to why they can’t start their own groups and include/exclude who they want?

OpheliaWitchoftheWoods · 04/12/2025 18:08

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

spannasaurus · 04/12/2025 18:06

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:04

I’m not sure why I’m posting here. It seems mostly people who are happy that transgirls will be banned from Guides are voicing their excitement over the announcement and displaying their bigotry here. I’m saddened by these voices, but genuinely curious about people’s views, perceptions, and knowledge of the trans community.

My daughter and her friends (ages 11/12) in Girl Guides are saddened by the announcement and will be discussing it with their troop leaders next week. Many parents I know are equally upset that the WI and GG have had to make these statements this week to avoid legal action. Protests and petitions will be forthcoming and the fight for trans rights will continue.

I’d like to ask if and why are you afraid of trans people and what threat you think a transgirl poses to a troop. I’m 50 years old and have known people from all the letters of the LGBTQ+ community most of my life and have not ever felt threatened by them. No one is trying to ‘convert’ heterosexuals or get people to change their gender. Given the current climate of hatred towards trans and gender non-conforming people (stirred up by billionaires, politicians, and the christian right), why would any child, teen, or adult “choose” to be trans? Certainly not to “infiltrate” toilets and girl’s only spaces. These people are marginalised as it is. Heterosexual cisgender men continue to be the biggest threat to each other, women, trans people…

Do any of you know anyone who is trans, non-binary, intersex? Biological sex is not as simple as you’d like it to be. 1.7% of the population is intersex - as common as twins. Approximately 1 in 4500 assigned female at birth women are born without wombs.

Ok, done rambling…

Is there a reason why your daughters chose to join a single sex organisation rather than a mixed sexed one like Scouts?

OpheliaWitchoftheWoods · 04/12/2025 18:05

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

WhamBamThankU · 04/12/2025 18:05

Proud to be helping women and girls whilst simultaneously wanting to erode their spaces… make it make sense.

FrippEnos · 04/12/2025 18:04

OneLoftyPombear · 04/12/2025 17:50

i believe trans women should be allowed into lesbian bars but I believe it’s a whole other issue around consent if these trans women do not disclose it to cis women. It should be disclosed because it’s part of consent

No Cis required, Lesbians are women.

But no Lesbian bars and associated places should just be for Lesbians.

DuchessFaceRobbin · 04/12/2025 18:04

I’m not sure why I’m posting here. It seems mostly people who are happy that transgirls will be banned from Guides are voicing their excitement over the announcement and displaying their bigotry here. I’m saddened by these voices, but genuinely curious about people’s views, perceptions, and knowledge of the trans community.

My daughter and her friends (ages 11/12) in Girl Guides are saddened by the announcement and will be discussing it with their troop leaders next week. Many parents I know are equally upset that the WI and GG have had to make these statements this week to avoid legal action. Protests and petitions will be forthcoming and the fight for trans rights will continue.

I’d like to ask if and why are you afraid of trans people and what threat you think a transgirl poses to a troop. I’m 50 years old and have known people from all the letters of the LGBTQ+ community most of my life and have not ever felt threatened by them. No one is trying to ‘convert’ heterosexuals or get people to change their gender. Given the current climate of hatred towards trans and gender non-conforming people (stirred up by billionaires, politicians, and the christian right), why would any child, teen, or adult “choose” to be trans? Certainly not to “infiltrate” toilets and girl’s only spaces. These people are marginalised as it is. Heterosexual cisgender men continue to be the biggest threat to each other, women, trans people…

Do any of you know anyone who is trans, non-binary, intersex? Biological sex is not as simple as you’d like it to be. 1.7% of the population is intersex - as common as twins. Approximately 1 in 4500 assigned female at birth women are born without wombs.

Ok, done rambling…

JanesLittleGirl · 04/12/2025 18:01

OneLoftyPombear · 04/12/2025 17:50

i believe trans women should be allowed into lesbian bars but I believe it’s a whole other issue around consent if these trans women do not disclose it to cis women. It should be disclosed because it’s part of consent

Why on earth should lesbians accept the presence of people who they have no attraction towards into their sex and sexuality specific spaces? One of the greatest lines from the FWS SCJ was the one observing that nobody is attracted to a piece of paper.

EmpressaurusKitty · 04/12/2025 17:59

OneLoftyPombear · 04/12/2025 17:50

i believe trans women should be allowed into lesbian bars but I believe it’s a whole other issue around consent if these trans women do not disclose it to cis women. It should be disclosed because it’s part of consent

Which is why lesbians have had to go underground.
‘Cis’ is offensive. It imposes a gender identity on the women you’re talking about whether they want one or not (& I personally don’t, having a sex is enough). Feel free to use it for yourself but most of us on here are happy to be women without a prefix.

SternJoyousBeev2 · 04/12/2025 17:58

CautiousLurker2 · 04/12/2025 17:53

So lesbian women are entitled to a lesser degree of honesty and safeguarding protection than non-lesbians? (NB the lesbians may or may not also describe themselves as Cis, by the way.)

The homophobia is strong in this one.

Edited

It’s fucking heartbreaking. When you read the Reddit posts from young lesbians who have forced themselves to have sex with a TW and when they look for some support about their feelings they are torn apart.

Males, no matter how they identify, cannot be a lesbian. Lesbians are same SEX attracted. They are not attracted to girldick and (to paraphrase the Scottish lesbian intervenors) they are not attracted to a piece of paper!!!

MrsOvertonsWindow · 04/12/2025 17:57

EmpressaurusKitty · 04/12/2025 17:52

When I came out in the 1990s there was a fabulous lesbian community out there - bars, quiz nights, dinner clubs, book groups, a helpline, & all single sex because that was what being lesbian was.

And now the only lesbian groups I know of have to go underground to keep the men out.

Me too - except much earlier. I recall a young lesbian at Uni posting in despair on here many years ago about the fact that young women had to go underground in order to meet other lesbians. All their groups were infiltrated and trashed by men insisting lesbians were transphobic for not wanting to date them.

The sheer joy of all women nights out - clubs, bars, events has completely disappeared for young women.
The right for lesbians to assemble without male oversight has been another positive from the SC judgment.

CautiousLurker2 · 04/12/2025 17:56

TheNightingalesStarling · 04/12/2025 17:43

My 12yo lesbian DD has already had bullying from some called Trans Rights Activists.

The common being... Are you really a girl.
Because apparently like Science Fiction and Crime novels, being good at Maths and playing Rugby isn't "Feminine".

Am horrified to read this, but not surprised. I think it was pressure and bullying like this that pushed my DD over the line into trans identifying and suicidal ideation.

Am livid on her and your behalf.

SternJoyousBeev2 · 04/12/2025 17:53

TheNightingalesStarling · 04/12/2025 17:43

My 12yo lesbian DD has already had bullying from some called Trans Rights Activists.

The common being... Are you really a girl.
Because apparently like Science Fiction and Crime novels, being good at Maths and playing Rugby isn't "Feminine".

Fuck my life! THIS IS WHY GI IS SUCH DANGEROUS BOLLOCKS!!!!!

Its so utterly regressive and damaging.