Girlguiding defends policy to include transgender members following criticism

‘Simply being transgender does not make someone more of a safeguarding risk than any other person’

Girlguiding, the UK’s largest girl-only youth organisation, has defended its transgender policy following a barrage of criticism from people who claim the charity is putting the safety of its members at risk.

The organisation’s equality and diversity policy states that any child or young person who self-identifies as a girl or a young woman is welcome to join Girlguiding.

Earlier this year, 224 individuals, including Girlguiding volunteers, current and former unit leaders and parents, signed an open letter that stated that the policy “poses safeguarding risks, reinforces gender stereotypes and denies informed parental consent.”

They claimed that while trans inclusion is important, allowing boys who self-identify as girls to join in Girlguiding camping trips and activities may “sacrifice the safety, privacy or inclusion of girls”.

Two leaders who signed the letter were removed from the Girlguiding organisation after also making comments about the policy on social media.

Chief guide Amanda Medler and acting chief executive Ruth Marvel have released a joint statement in response to the attention that the equality and diversity policy has been receiving in the media.

“The safety, wellbeing and happiness of our members is at the heart of everything we do in Girlguiding and has been for over 100 years. We are therefore writing to set the record straight,” the statement reads.

“As an organisation we pride ourselves on caring for every individual. Simply being transgender does not make someone more of a safeguarding risk than any other person.”

According to Medler and Marvel, 86 per cent of the girls and young women who took part in the Girlguiding Girls’ Attitudes Survey stated that they don’t believe anyone should be discriminated against for being transgender.

Furthermore, the organisation claims to make strong efforts to train its volunteers so that they know how to keep its members safe.

Medler and Marvel have refused to comment further on the disciplinary cases of the two leaders who’ve been removed from the charity for breaching the volunteer code of conduct and the social media policy.

“We’ve tried to avoid being drawn into the highly politicised, emotive and often aggressive debate around transgender inclusion,” their statement reads.

“Girlguiding is not a transgender campaign group, we are a young people’s organisation.

“Our focus has been, and will remain, providing our young members with opportunities to learn, grow and discover in a fun, safe, inclusive and legally compliant way.”

Girlguiding says that it listens to legal advice and guidance provided by organisations who work with young members of transgender community when developing its equality and diversity policies.