Girl Guides have released new guidelines allowing transgender children to join (Picture: Shutterstock)

For the first time ever, transgender children will be allowed to join Rainbows, Brownies and Girl Guides in a landmark move that breaks 107 years of tradition.

Transgender women will also be able to become leaders, also known as Brown Owls.

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In the new guidelines, it explained that doors will be open for new members who were born male but ‘self-identify’ as female.

This will apply to all ages, from five and up.


The document states: ‘Girlguiding aims to support all girls and young women. This is understood in terms of the way a person self-identifies their gender identity – a person’s inner sense of self.’

This applies to children from five years and up (Picture: Getty images)

As part of the new policy, parents will not be informed if there are trans children or adults at their local group.



But Amanda Gracey, whose six-year-old daughter recently joined Rainbows, said the new rule is ‘shocking’ and parents should be informed if a transgender person is leading a group.

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She told Mail Online: ‘It’s shocking that if there is a man who believes he is a woman leading the group, it is forbidden that parents should be informed, even on residential trips.

‘You might be in a situation with girls having to deal with menstruation going to a leader with no understanding at all. Every piece of safeguarding advice says you should provide separate sleeping and changing facilities for children of opposite sexes under the age of 18.’

A spokesman for the Girl Guide Association told metro.co.uk that it would be unlawful to tell parents that there is a trans member in a unit without their consent.

The Guides have had a single-sex policy since 1910 (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

Since it was formed in 1910, the Girl Guide Association has been a strict single-sex organisation.

Chief executive Julie Bentley, who is a staunch women’s rights campaigner, said this move means the organisation can hold true its values of inclusion.

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She said: ‘Girlguiding complies with the Equality Act 2010 which makes clear organisations providing single-gender services should treat people according to their acquired gender.

‘We welcome any young person who self-identifies as a girl or young woman.’

The rule will apply to Rainbows, (age five to seven), Brownies (age seven to ten) and Guides (age ten to 14).

The Queen is the organisation’s patron, where Emma Thompson, JK Rowling and Princess Margaret have all been members.

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