Summary
The Women's Institute, a UK organization with many local branches, will stop offering membership to transgender women starting in April 2026. This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that defines a woman by biological sex according to UK equality law. Despite this change, the organization plans to create new groups that include transgender women.
Key Facts
- The Women's Institute will change its membership rules in April 2026 to exclude transgender women.
- This decision follows a UK Supreme Court ruling about biological sex and equality law.
- The Women's Institute has allowed transgender women to join for the past 40 years.
- The organization has about 175,000 members who have different opinions on this change.
- The Women's Institute plans to set up new "sisterhood groups" for transgender women to offer support and friendship.
- The UK Equality Act 2010 allows single-sex organizations to exclude people of the opposite biological sex under certain conditions.
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission will update guidelines on how this law should be interpreted for organizations.
- The Women's Institute is waiting for guidance on how to enforce the new membership rules.
