Trans girl guide, 10, ‘can’t understand why she is being kicked out of beloved group’

A trans girl guide, 10, has told her mum she cannot understand why she is being excluded from the group that made her feel accepted.

Sophie’s* mother Angela told Metro that Girlguiding’s decision that trans members must leave the charity by September feels like a ‘betrayal’.

The group said they were taking action following a Supreme Court ruling that women are defined by biological sex.

The move has sparked fears that trans girl guides could be outed to their peers because of the September 6 deadline, according to one parent who revealed how her family have been heartbroken by the decision.

Angela, 36, from the east coast of England, said: ‘This is telling a child that they don’t belong in a community that welcomes them.

‘It feels like such a stark contrast to the core values of Girlguiding. It isn’t inclusion or kindness.

‘It is a decision that feels fuelled by fear of legal challenges rather than a decision fuelled by their own ethics.’

Sophie was just six when she began living life as a girl.

She joined Girlguiding two years ago and two years after her cis-gendered sister became a member.

Sophie’s journey from Brownie to Guide was a ‘positive experience’ where her gender identity was affirmed by inclusion and a warm welcome.

Angela said: ‘Sophie and her sister built friendships, grew in confidence and found a sense of belonging.

‘Being trans has had no relevance, other than situations where dignity and privacy for all needed to be considered.

‘It was handled very thoughtfully by local leaders and in a way that felt really fair for everbody.’

Things began to change in December, when Girlguiding announced it was banning new trans girls from joining.

The move led some members to form a Guiders Against Trans Exclusion campaign to oppose the plans.

Despite these efforts, Girlguiding announced last week that they would impose a ban on trans youth after taking ‘extensive legal advice’.

Guidance says that the ban will apply to all current trans girls and young women, as well as preventing them from volunteering in women-only roles.

It added: ‘We must operate lawfully and follow our governing charity documents, which affect how our membership eligibility is defined.’

‘Although living by our values cannot change our legal responsibilities, it does shape how we treat everyone, how we speak about people, the culture we create, and the future we’re working towards.’

Girlguiding has about 300,000 members across Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers groups, as well as around 80,000 volunteers, although it is not known how many are trans.

Angela said her daughter were ‘incredibly sad’ by the ‘painful decision’, which she claimed had also outraged Sophie’s local Girlguiding leaders.

She added: ‘Sophie can’t understand. This is somewhere that has nurtured and welcomed her. She can’t understand why that has changed.

‘That is hard to explain to a child.

‘Her sister has told me “it doesn’t make sense. They teach us to be kind and include people”.’

One of Angela’s biggest fears is that trans children like Sophie, who is out to only some of her friends in Girlguiding, will be outed because it will be evident they have left before the September deadline for trans members.

‘It will absolutely out individuals who are not out if they leave within the six month window,’ she added.

‘That is a huge safeguarding concern’.

Girlguiding has stressed they chose the September date to give as much notice as possible and to allow all current members to take part in activities during the summer term and over the summer holidays.

This includes the Poacher International Jamboree taking place in early August, which is a week-long camping event for Scouts and Girlguiding members aged 10-17 from around the world.

Angela, whose daughter is attending, said: ‘It raises the question if we have effective safeguarding measures for trans girls to attend Poacher why is that not good enough for our weekly meets?

Girlguiding’s decision is another blow for Sophie’s parents who fear the world she is growing up in is becoming ‘more divisive’ for trans people.

She said: ‘Nobody plans to have a child who is trans. When that becomes your reality, you brace yourself for the way that the world misunderstands them and mistreats them.

‘I did not expect that our first experience would be at the hands of an organisation that effectively wrapped their arms around her and provided her community, belonging and safety.

‘There is a move in society where some people need for things to be black and white, with no grey area. But in reality there are grey areas.

‘A blanket ban like this is not necessary. There are ways to safeguard when the approach is based on face and not fear.’

*Name has been changed to protect their anonymity.

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