It was announced yesterday that Girlguiding would be excluding transgender children from all of its groups, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers. This ban, which seems to have been spurred on in the face of threats of legal action being taken against them if they continued their inclusion policy, rolls back on previously established pledges that welcomed transgender girls and nonbinary children into the organisation.
As soon as news broke current and former members of the organisation spoke out to express their anger and disappointment with Girlguiding's decision, with some accusing them of going against their pledges of equality. Some even called the decision a 'betrayal'. My wife, who had been involved with Girlguiding since her childhood, attended her final meeting as a volunteer last night as she could no longer take part in an organisation that has chosen to harm a group of vulnerable children.
Girlguiding volunteer Jenny Thompson created an online petition that calls for the organisation to reverse it's decision, and has already received several thousand signatures in less than 24 hours.
Thompson says that during her time with Girlguiding she learned the values of friendship, acceptance, and support, principals that were key commitments of the organisation. However, their decision to exclude certain women and girls is described as 'a step backwards', one that 'suggests some individuals are not worthy of inclusion'.
I urge those who also feel that the Girlguiding decision to be wrong and wish to see it reversed please click the link above and sign the petition, adding your voice to the growing pushback against this cruel, discriminatory decision.
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