Girlguiding faces legal action from parent over trans policy

[Misla]

Good. Well done that parent!

Charity is accused of failing to follow Supreme Court ruling on gender, leaving girls ‘exposed to harassment’

Girlguiding is facing legal action from a parent over its transgender policy which she claims discriminates against her seven-year-old daughter.

The claimant, who has asked to remain anonymous to protect her daughter’s identity, has alleged in a pre-action letter to Girlguiding that the organisation’s policy “exposes girls to harassment”.

Under the policy, trans girls — boys who identify as girls — are allowed to join Girlguiding, and trans women — adult males who identify as female — are permitted to undertake volunteer roles previously reserved for women.

“It constitutes and encourages unwanted conduct which violates their [girls’] dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment,” the correspondence said.

“This includes, but is not limited to: sharing toilets, showers or changing facilities with boys, contact sports with boys, and sharing accommodation with boys, all without their prior knowledge or consent.”

The letter goes on to point out that Girlguiding operates “as a charity for the benefit of girls and young women”.

Girlguiding faces legal action from parent over trans policy

Thank goodness for that parent. So annoying that it's going to be dismantled bit by bit rather than organisations like this seeing sense.

Great news!!

Guiding was originally set up for girls and young women- every time members have been asked if boys should be allowed to join, the answer has been a resounding “no”.
The all girl safe space has been highly valued- girls are free to be themselves, away from the male gaze, able to discuss things without worrying about boys overhearing.
The supreme court’s ruling is clear, but Girlguiding has been dodging the issue for months. It is such a shame that they are going to waste more of the money and resources on fighting this issue in court, when they should be following the law and providing the safe female only space they were founded to be.

The most concerning aspect for me has always been the adult male leaders they allow.

Ridiculous that it's come to this but well done that woman.

Would happily contribute to this. It will be very interesting to see how this pans about along with the one against the WI - they will be fairly similar legally I would imagine but the Guides one has the huge safeguarding element to it which makes it just jaw dropping that they currently have this stance.

Yes - it's very revealing who gets speedily promoted despite an online presence showcasing their unsuitability to work with girls:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4409035-A-trans-Identified-BDSM-fan-gun-nut-is-now-a-senior-leader-at-Girlguiding?page=1

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10235539/Girlguides-launch-probe-trans-Commissioner-58-saucy-dominatrix-style-picture.html

Absolutely!

What is happening with the WI?

Thread here re legal action against the WI

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5377946-dh-v-the-wi-thread-2

Good.

I’ve only mentioned this to two reasonably close friends, neither of whom originally believe me and both came back a while late gobsmacked.

It does anger me that women/ parents have to go through this. The government, as we all know, should have found its backbone ages ago and protected women and girls and saved families and women the stress of legal action. Well done this woman - i hope her actions lead to the protection of all the girls involved in guiding and spells the end of the road for the man-pleasing misogynists in charge.

The rules with regard to men and boys taking part or attending Guiding events is very strict. From separate toilets and showers through to not being alone with girls, the rules are strong and enforced.
For example, at a recent large scale camp (hundreds of kids) leaders could take their own children, but male children over 10 had to sleep in a separate area to the guides along with any husbands or male staff.

All this goes out of the window when it’s a trans woman/girl. And as leaders we are not allowed to say anything to parents.

This is where most leaders have their “line in the sand”. My friends in guiding- currently keeping their heads down and delivering girl-led guiding for girls- if forced to, they will walk away. And without leaders, there will be no more Guides.

Bloody outrageous that each organisation is having to be tackled one by one but well done to those parents

I'm so pleased to see this. It's such a waste of parents' money though when GG could have just followed the law years ago and not spent tens of thousands in legal fees defending themselves against me and then settling

Good to hear. I hope it's a swift and decisive outcome.

The Girl Guides’ rules on trans inclusion was one of the first things that alerted me to this nonsense. The other was Juno Dawson.

My DH is bringing a claim against them for direct sex discriminaiton.

Sadly GG will waste huge amounts of money
defending the indefensible
and lose
costing parents £££££

rather than just obey the law

So glad to hear this. I'm one of those leaders keeping my head down as if I walk away my units will close. But walk away I will if I have to.
Im so glad GG are going to have to stop just ignoring the issue. Well done that parent

Well done your DH! Any news?

This is where most leaders have their “line in the sand”. My friends in guiding- currently keeping their heads down and delivering girl-led guiding for girls- if forced to, they will walk away. And without leaders, there will be no more Guides.

This is how I'm handling it. Just hoping I will never be in this position. We have had transboys come and go, but that never presents the same issues. Ironically GG initially were refusing transboys, but accepting transgirls (make it make sense).
GG have already banished leaders who don't support the idealogy, so we know once we have to make a stand then that's us finished.

Me too.
Fortunately round here being trans is no longer trendy so risk is reducing. I also have a big unit and a waiting list so unlikely to have to take a boy. I'm actually more concerned about how I would deal with a parent as I just can't comprehend how someone would do this to their child.
There are a couple of girls in a local unit who are currently trans identifying. Poor loves they are autistic, find it hard to fit in socially and are struggling with their changing bodies.

This! Thanks to the parent who has complained.

Guides refused boys. Scouts accepts girls. This is a classic example of it not being about a safe third space.