J.K. Rowling reacted online after Girlguiding announced it would no longer allow trans girls to join its groups. On December 2, X user Nyara shared a screenshot of a Pink News article reporting that the organization had updated its inclusion policies, specifying that only those born female could participate in its scouting activities.In her caption, the X user questioned the decision of Girlguiding.“Serious question.. who does this help? Literally excluding young girls from activities just because they're trans. This is only contributing to the mental health issues that trans people face due to being ostracised,” the user wrote in the caption of her post.Rowling addressed the controversy after engaging with the aforementioned X post.On December 4, the Harry Potter author reposted X user nyara’s post with the Pink News screenshot to her own X account, responding directly to the question posed in the caption.In her reply, Rowling emphasised her belief that the youth organization's updated policy served a protective purpose for cisgender girls.She suggested that it reinforced their ability to say “no” and expressed her view that the “desires of boys,” her alleged phrasing for trans girls, should not outweigh biological girls’ comfort, rights, or safety.“Answer: it helps girls. It tells girls they have the right to things of their own. It tells girls they have the right to say ‘no’. It reminds girls that the desires of boys do not supersede their feelings, their rights, their discomfort or their safety,” Rowling wrote.J.K. Rowling @jk_rowlingLINKAnswer: it helps girls. It tells girls they have the right to things of their own. It tells girls they have the right to say 'no'. It reminds girls that the desires of boys do not supersede their feelings, their rights, their discomfort or their safety.More about Girlguiding’s updated inclusion policyGirlguiding’s updated inclusion policy prevents trans girls from joiningGirlguiding, the UK’s largest organisation for girls and young women, announced a significant shift in its inclusion policy on December 2, stating that trans girls will no longer be allowed to join its youth groups. The decision, first reported by the BBC, followed a year of legal scrutiny and changes to how sex is defined under UK equality law.On December 2, the trustees for the youth organization acknowledged the new policy and wrote on their website.“From today, 2 December, it is with a heavy heart that we are announcing trans girls and young women will no longer be able to join Girlguiding. This is a decision we would have preferred not to make, and we know that this may be upsetting for members of our community,” they wrote.They also reaffirmed the organisation’s broader commitment to supporting marginalised groups, signalling that inclusivity remains part of their organization's identity even as the membership rules tighten.“Girlguiding believes strongly in inclusion, and we will continue to support young people and adults in marginalised groups.”They further added:“Most adult roles, including unit helpers, district helpers and administrative support, are already open to all, so we are confident that no volunteers will have to leave the organisation.”This youth organization oversees approximately 385,000 members aged four to eighteen across programmes like Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers. Despite its size, the organisation clarified that it does not collect data on gender identity, making it unclear how many young people will be directly affected by the change.Under UK law, the 2010 Equality Act allows single-sex organisations to exclude members of the opposite sex in specific circumstances. This framework gained renewed attention since the April Supreme Court ruling, which clarified that these exemptions apply based on biological sex rather than gender identity.Girlguiding said it had acted in accordance with its governing documents, which specify that the organisation’s beneficiaries are “girls and women.” It added that the decision aligned with legal advice and feedback from within the organisation.As per a BBC News report, Maya Forstater, CEO of the women’s rights organisation Sex Matters, praised the change, arguing that it was necessary to safeguard single-sex spaces.She said the youth organization had done the “right and only thing”. She emphasised that both girls and boys deserve opportunities for adventure and learning, with Girlguiding providing a dedicated space “just for girls.”Trans rights organisation TransActual, however, condemned the decision, arguing that the policy change was unnecessary and harmful. The group said there was “no problem being solved” and highlighted the “harm being done” to trans young people who may now feel excluded.Girlguiding noted that no immediate changes would affect young members, adding that further details on the updated inclusion policy would be shared the following week.