Girlguiding bosses says girls not at risk from transgender members
Leaders of the organisation say inclusion of trans members is in line with the law - and it is not a "transgender campaign group".
Tuesday 16 October 2018 09:51, UK
Girlguiding has defended its decision to allow transgender members and leaders.
The organisation said that "simply being transgender does not make someone more of a safeguarding risk than any other person".
Two leaders had their membership withdrawn earlier this month after they publicly objected to elements of Girlguiding's equality and diversity policy, saying the decision could sacrifice the "safety, privacy [and] inclusion of girls".
The decision to include allow those who self-identify as female to join has also been criticised by some.
In a joint statement, chief guide Amanda Medler and chief executive Ruth Marvel said much of the criticism had been "inaccurate, aggressive and counter to the values we hold dear" and they wanted to "set the record straight".
"In the last few days you may have seen that Girlguiding's equality and diversity policy has been criticised in the media, with accusations that our inclusion of trans members puts girls at risk. It does not," they said.
The chiefs said they had tried to resist being drawn into the "highly politicised, emotive and often aggressive" debate around transgender inclusion and they stressed that Guildguiding is not a "transgender campaign group".
They added: "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 said its policies were developed in line with legal advice and organisations that have to make similar decisions.
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It denied it had drawn up policies based on comments from "individuals or pressure groups".
Girlguiding said the law around transgender issues was "new and complex" and that it would continue to review its policies against the latest advice and guidance.
In April, 224 current and former unit leaders, volunteers and parents signed an open letter saying the policy "compels units to accept boys who self-identify as girls for camping trips and other activities".
They said the policy "poses safeguarding risks, reinforces gender stereotypes and denies informed parental consent".
"A boy who identifies as a girl is still legally and physically male," they said.
"Trans inclusion, while laudable, must not sacrifice the safety, privacy or inclusion of girls."
Helen Watts, who led a Rainbows unit for girls aged five to seven in Ealing, west London, was one of those to sign.
Along with another leader, she was expelled by the organisation after reportedly making further comments on social media.
Ms Medler and Ms Marvel said an investigation concluded they had breached the volunteer code of conduct and social media policy because the leaders had "indicated that they were not willing to follow Girlguiding's equality and diversity policy and actively encouraged others to do the same".