The British Women’s Institute has banned transgender women from becoming members, it said on Wednesday, a day after a similar move by youth organization Girlguiding.
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), like Girlguiding, said it made the decision after the Supreme Court ruled in April that the legal definition of a woman was based on their biological sex at birth.
“It is with the greatest sadness that we announce today that we will no longer be able to offer formal membership to transgender women beginning in April 2026,” NFWI President Jeryl Stone said in a video on social media.
“We have proudly welcomed transgender women for more than 40 years, so this is not something we would do unless we felt we had no other choice.”
The NFWI is a British organization dating back to 1915 and has an extensive network of local women’s groups, especially in rural areas, known for their social events and charity works.
Stone said she knew many would find the announcement “extremely painful,” adding that the group still adheres to the “firm belief that transgender women are women.”
Girlguiding said Tuesday that transgender girls and young women can no longer join their organization.
The charity, founded in 1910, has around 300,000 British members aged four to 18 who join the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers groups.
“After detailed consideration, Girlguiding’s board of directors has made the difficult decision that Girlguiding must change,” the company said in a statement.
Transgender rights groups have heavily criticized the measures.
“It is clear that this is the result of a handful of extremists imposing their views on groups that have been happily trans-inclusive for many years, if not decades,” said the advocacy group TransActual.
Following the court ruling in April, the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said transgender people can only use same-sex public spaces, such as toilets, based on their biological sex.
The committee has produced fuller guidance, which is currently being examined by the government.
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