Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ community have voiced their devastation after a new ruling has banned transgender girls from joining the Girlguiding organisation.

Despite priding itself on being a “welcoming space” for all girls, the new ruling came into effect this week (December 2).

Leona Wilson, a High Level Teaching Assistant from Sheffield who has two transgender daughters, aged 14 and 18, spoke to Sheffield Wire.

She said: “To see the organisation adopt policies which exclude trans girls feels like a massive step backwards.

“This isn’t an abstract ethical problem, it is a direct denial of belonging.”

Girlguiding is an organisation that aims to provide fun and adventure for girls aged four to 18 over four groups: Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers.

A day after Girlguiding announced their decision, the Women’s Institute also stated that they would no longer be allowing transgender women to become members.

Ms Wilson is worried how these bans will impact her daughters emotionally and the message it sends out.

She said that one of her daughters views the decisions as “another message that society finds her too difficult to accommodate”.

The news follows the Supreme Court’s ruling, made in April 2025, that the term “woman” solely applies to biological sex in the Equality Act (2010).

Councillor Angela Argenzio, leader of the Sheffield Green Party, said: “As a Party our stance is clear, trans women are women and trans men are men.”

She fears that the Girlguiding ruling risks sending the message that these supportive spaces may now be closed to young members of the LGBT community. She suggested that with unclear legal guidelines, Girlguiding may feel as though they have no other choice.

Cllr Argenzio said: “We don’t doubt the pressure they’re under. We hope that with better guidance and community consultation, inclusion doesn’t continue to become the casualty of that pressure.”

Reacting to the ruling, Lyle Ellis, a transgender man whose family live in Sheffield, said he was “devastated”.

He said: “These decisions make absolutely no sense and will affect a great amount of people who are often marginalized and already greatly suffer due to discrimination. All this while the ruling pretends that it’s protecting women.”

The 2025 ruling also means that single-sex organisations have the ability to exclude members who were not recorded as the respective sex at birth. This means that transgender boys (biologically female) are able to join.

Girlguiding said in their announcement: “Girlguiding believes strongly in inclusion, and we will continue to support young people and adults in marginalised groups.

“Over the next few months, we will explore opportunities to champion this value and actively support young people who need us.”

The announcement was met with outrage online and across the Girlguiding social media pages.

One Facebook user said: “I find this decision incredibly disappointing and it has made me think about my future supporting girl guiding!”

A Brownies Leader, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It feels like we’ve been backed into a corner which ultimately hurts our girls rather than protects them from a threat that isn’t actually there.

“I do Pride with my group every June. I will be doing the same in 2026.”

The UK government are still creating the guidelines for how the Supreme Court’s ruling should be applied, which has led to confusion among users as to why Girlguiding have made the decision now and not back in April.

As reported in the Guardian, the Girlguiding association’s decision was made after a parent filed legal action against them, complaining that their 2018 policy (which allowed transgender girls to join) does not align with the new 2025 rulings.

Girlguiding have confirmed they have taken expert legal advice and guidance from senior members of their organisation over the past few months.

Because adult roles within Girlguiding are not gender specific, the new policy will not affect transgender members in roles such as unit helpers, district helpers and administrative support.

Girlguiding said: “We are confident that no volunteers will have to leave the organisation.”

However, several Facebook users have questioned their association with the organisation regardless.

One user wrote: “This is why I don’t sign back up as an adult. I’m non-binary. I’m going to stand with my trans sisters.”

Another simply posted: “I am reconsidering my membership.”

While the LGBTQ+ community may feel disheartened by this ruling, Girlguiding have promised to develop a new task force which aims to create a more inclusive environment.

They said: “While Girlguiding may feel a little different going forward, our core aims and principles will always endure and we remain committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect, particularly those from marginalised groups that have felt the biggest impact of this decision.”

A petition has been launched, urging Girlguiding to allow transgender girls back into the community. Click here for further information.