Freemasons to accept women for first time in its history… but only if they joined as a man
1 Aug, 2018
Transgender women should have the right to remain members of the Freemasons but only if they joined as a man, the UK’s largest lodge, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), has said.
UGLE, which was founded in 1717 and has been male-only for centuries, issued new guidance to its 200,000 members in England and Wales, stating that “a Freemason who after initiation ceases to be a man does not cease to be a Freemason”. It added that those who have transitioned from female to male can also apply, reports the Times.
Some conventions of the secret society will remain unaltered. Formal greetings between members, for example, should begin with the prefix “Brother”, so someone who has transitioned from Steven to Stephanie Smith would be “Brother Stephanie” or “Brother Smith”.
During informal interactions they should be addressed "by the name and title he/she has chosen," the new gender reassignment policy confirms. Appropriate alternatives to the dress code, which could include a “smart dark skirt and top”, would be accepted.
The move has been met with bemusement from some on social media who question whether the centuries old secret society, whose past members include King Edward VII and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, is more progressive on transgender rights than women’s rights.
https://www.rt.com/uk/434853-freemasons-admit-transgender-women/
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