Girl Guides Australia reaffirms commitment to trans inclusion following UK policy reversal

Girl Guides Australia has unequivocally restated its commitment to welcoming all girls, including transgender individuals, into its ranks. This reaffirmation comes as Girlguiding UK implements a new policy restricting membership to those assigned female at birth, a move prompted by legal challenges to the UK's Equality Act.

Last week, Girlguiding UK announced a change to its membership criteria, effective December 2. The organisation stated that new members must have been recorded as female at birth, effectively excluding transgender girls and young women. This decision, described by the organisation as "difficult," was reached after "detailed considerations, expert legal advice, and input from senior members, young members, and Girlguiding’s Council." A statement from the Board of Trustees clarified that membership would now be restricted to "girls and young women, as defined in the Equality Act."

Q News reports that Girl Guides Australia has used this moment to underscore its steadfast dedication to an inclusive environment. Through statements shared across its social media platforms, the organisation reminded the community of its core values and its unwavering support for transgender girls.

"Girl Guides Australia’s mission is to empower girls and young women to discover their potential as leaders of their world," the organisation articulated on its official Facebook page. "All girls – cisgender and transgender – are welcome at Guides, and we support their personal journeys."

The Australian organisation's comprehensive diversity and inclusion policy elaborates on this stance, defining "girls and women" expansively. The policy states that its objective is "to empower girls and young women to grow into confident, self-respecting, responsible community members" and commits to fostering "a respectful, open and safe environment where all people are treated equitably and with mutual respect." This applies irrespective of "gender identity, sexual orientation," and other protected characteristics. Crucially, the policy clarifies that girls and women, for the purposes of membership, include "persons who identify as, and live their lives as, females." While acknowledging legal provisions that permit single-sex organisations to define membership, Girl Guides Australia's policy explicitly chooses this inclusive definition, thereby affirming transgender girls' full participation.

This inclusive approach was tested in 2022 when the then-CEO of Girl Guides Western Australia, Karyn Lisignoli, was terminated shortly after publicly attempting to exclude transgender girls from the organisation, citing "safety issues." In response, the then-Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides Australia, Rosemary Derwin, robustly defended the organisation's inclusive policy.

"Girls and women who identify and live in the community as female are welcomed in our organisation," Derwin stated at the time. She emphasised the non-discriminatory nature of their approach, adding, "We don’t ask parents, ‘Is your daughter a transgender girl or a biological girl?'… All people are treated equally and with mutual respect regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity." Derwin further highlighted the importance of belonging, noting, "If a transgender girl goes to school as a girl, and her friends go to Guides, it’s important they can come too, otherwise it’s discriminatory."

Reflecting its commitment to the broader LGBTQ+ community, Girl Guides Victoria proudly participates in the annual Midsumma Pride March, marching alongside fellow community members in a display of solidarity and acceptance. Girl Guides Australia continues to champion an environment where every girl can thrive, regardless of her gender identity.