Girlguiding Brownie leader raising concerns

[AJNorthWest]

Hey all, I think I'm in the right place for this.

I have been a Brownie leader for 10 years now, since I was 18, and was a Brownie myself as a child. For the last year or so I have been more aware of the takeover of gender ideology and seen it seeping into every single-sex area you could think of.

I have recently challenged Girlguiding on their "inclusion policy" and their self-description of themselves being a "girl-only trans inclusive space". It turns out that this has been their stance since 2018. So since 2018 Girlguiding has been a mixed-sex space, without calling itself that, and leaders and parents are unaware of this.

I sent a long email to the Volunteer Support team asking for some clarification on their language, their stance, and safeguarding. They have now responded, without addressing my concerns, and asked me to answer a hypothetical scenario (presumably to prove I'm not a threat to Girlguiding and the members) within 2 weeks otherwise they will "take further action".

I'm not really sure what the point of this post is other than to seek some common sense. I'm feeling very alone in this, but I know others have the same concerns, it's just really difficult to speak out!

For anyone who would like to back me on this or add their input to my response, drop me a message - I'm gathering concerned leaders and parents together in the hope that our numbers will get the point across.

I argue that Girlguiding can’t unilaterally go from a single-sex organisation to a single-gender identity organisation. Their constitution says they are “…for the primary object of educating girls and young women to help them develop emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually so that they can make a positive contribution to their community and the wider world…”.

In addition their registration with the Charity Commission says their ‘Activities - how the charity spends its money:

TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN TO HELP THEM DEVELOP EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE WIDER WORLD.’

I say make self ID puts them in breach of both their Constitution as well as their Charity Commission registration. As the law stands they can be single-sex and lawfully exclude both males with and without a GRC, or admit those males, to female-only roles, with a GRC.

If they admit males to female-only roles without a GRC, I’d argue they open themselves up to a claim of sex discrimination against males who want those roles as now they are mixed sex.

This has been raised many times. As a leader You decide who goes on unit holidays with your unit. I wouldn’t allow any to men to come with us. Nor would I admit any boys to the unit.
I make that clear to parents too.

we don’t go to large scale events or day events with units outside my district anyway fir safeguarding reasons.

Are you a member of Girlguiding? There are indeed exemptions in the EA 2010 to permit sex discrimination in certain circumstances- typically against males - so that female-only spaces, services, roles and sports can exist.

Apologies I miss read your message!
As you were

Totally agree gra does not confer sex based rights

Girlguiding members: anyone going in uniform to KJK #LetWomenSpeak in London tomorrow?

@NitroNine I'd volunteer. I'd even devise the criteria for a Doctor Who badge.

@ButterflyBiscuit The Girls' Brigade is still a single-sex organisation (and long may it continue).

sadly not
apparently they are 'primarily' for girls

Well done OP. I loved my time in Brownies and Guides and assumed my girls would go, but would not sign them up due to the safeguarding concerns.

@AJNorthWest what happened?

Let me guess - they don't give a sh*t because they're arrogant and don't care about keeping girls safe?