ITV's This Morning presenter Ashley James has resigned from her role as a Girlguiding ambassador with immediate effect, following the youth organisation's controversial decision to exclude transgender girls from membership.
A Decision Driven by Principle
The announcement was made on Wednesday, 3rd December 2025, after Girlguiding released a new policy stating that "trans girls and young women, and others not recorded female at birth, will no longer be able to join Girlguiding as new young members." The decision was attributed to a Supreme Court ruling from April relating to sex and gender, which prompted a review by the charity's board of trustees.
In a lengthy and emotional statement shared on her Instagram, Ashley James, a former Rainbow and Brownie herself, explained her reasons for stepping down. "The organisation's decision to exclude trans girls has devastated me," she wrote. She described meeting trans girls during her site visits, calling them "every bit as bright, joyful and deserving as any other child."
Standing with Trans Sisters
James strongly contested the notion that trans girls pose a threat, a key point in the ongoing national debate. "Trans girls experience the same threats as other women and girls - they are not a threat to us. They are our sisters," she asserted. She expressed heartbreak for the trans community seeking inclusion and safe spaces, stating that some families were now "caught in the crossfire of culture wars."
Concluding her statement, James affirmed: "Inclusion makes us stronger, and I will continue to use my voice to fight for a world where every girl - cis or trans - grows up where she belongs." Her post was swiftly flooded with messages of support from followers and fellow public figures.
Organisational Stance and Public Reaction
In its official statement, Girlguiding's chair of trustees explained the move was a "difficult decision" reached after detailed consideration, expert legal advice, and consultation. They clarified that membership would now be "restricted to girls and young women, as defined in the Equality Act." Despite the policy change, the organisation insisted it "believed strongly in inclusion" and pledged to support marginalised communities through a new taskforce.
Public reaction to James's resignation has been largely supportive online. One supporter commented, "Well done and well said," revealing they too were leaving a women's organisation over the issue. Another called Girlguiding's decision "disappointing," praising James for standing up for her beliefs. A third noted the missed opportunity for the guiding movement to champion inclusivity.
The incident highlights the ongoing and complex national conversation around inclusion, gender identity, and organisational policy in the UK, with public figures increasingly taking public stands on the issue.
