DAR Rejects Proposal to Ban Transgender Members

The Daughters of the American Revolution voted against a proposal to ban transgender members at the organization’s 135th Continental Congress, held June 26 at Memorial Continental Hall in Washington, D.C. The proposal would require applicants to be “born female” to qualify for membership.

The organization limits membership to women over the age of 18 who are descendants of those who supported the American Revolution. An estimated five transgender women have joined DAR chapters in recent years, sparking debate over whether “daughters” should include those assigned male at birth and who identify as female.

The resolution was introduced by a membership group known as Daughters in Resilience, which has been lobbying the DAR for the past three years to limit its membership to cisgender women. Supporters argue that as a private membership organization, DAR has a First Amendment right to set its own eligibility standards and limit membership based on biological sex.

The resolution was rejected by a vote of 1,481 to 984, said Laura MacDonald, who led the resolution’s adoption.

“Today, the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose motto is ‘God, Home, Country,’ voted to reject a resolution that would define the term ‘woman’ in national ordinances,” McDonald said in a statement. washington times.

Some DAR members who oppose transgender inclusion have said in Facebook posts that they plan to resign, while others remain with the organization and urged them to support a second vote on a nearly identical resolution in October.

“Let’s stand still and fight. Remember that our ancestors never gave up,” one user wrote on Facebook. “They can win by resigning. This was the first real effort to change things. This was a learning experience. Remember, you are descended from warriors.”

Another member wrote, “I will do my best until the October meeting is over.” “However, without a clear plan, I will resign from my branch and district positions and resign from National in November. I cannot in good conscience continue to lead an organization bent on degrading the status of real women.”

In 2023, the DAR amended its guidelines to include language that protects transgender members from discrimination in the application process. At the time, the organization said the change merely clarified its existing policy that anyone with a valid birth certificate indicating they were female was eligible to apply for membership.

“The new language does not change membership standards,” said DAR spokesperson Bren Landon. newsweek It added that in 2023 it would “provide additional non-discrimination language” that would protect the society’s tax-exempt status.

Some right-wing media reported this language change as a new policy allowing transgender women to join organizations. In response, some DAR members, including Restoration for Daughters’ Rights advocates, advocated for a ban on transgender applicants, demanded explanations from the national organization, and even left DAR in protest.

DAR President Pamela Rouse Wright said chapters’ attempts to exclude transgender women constitute discrimination.

“Some have asked whether this means transgender women can join DAR, or whether DAR chapters have historically welcomed transgender women,” Wright wrote in a 2024 newsletter explaining the bylaw clarification. “The answer to both questions is yes.”

Another group that supports transgender membership, known as Daughters for Inclusivity, quietly celebrated the resolution’s defeat, although it acknowledged that the issue was unlikely to be resolved.

“It’s a bitter victory. It was by no means a landslide victory. We need to put this behind us now and work to restore the association. If your chapter has members who voted for the resolution, stop celebrating in person,” one user said. I wrote. “They voted for what they believe in, and so did those who want inclusion. Now, let’s all focus our energies on educating our youth, restoring wealth, and caring for our service members, veterans, and their families.”

Another member wrote, “We must continue to emphasize service and commitment to the Constitution with dignity, dignity, and inclusivity.” “At the same time, we continue to recognize that there are daughters who are actively organizing and pushing for exclusion.”