Daughters of American Revolution defeats proposal to block transgender members
“The Daughters of the American Revolution beat back a membership uprising over transgender membership, rejecting a resolution that would have barred male-born candidates from being admitted to the venerable women’s patriotic organization.
“DAR members defeated the resolution, which would have clarified that applicants must be ‘born female’ to be eligible for membership, at a Friday vote of the 135th Continental Congress at Memorial Continental Hall in the District.
“Introduced by a cohort of members known as Daughters Advocating for Restoration, the proposal lost by a 1,481-984 vote of the assembly, according to Laura McDonald, a leader of the resistance group and treasurer of the DAR’s Martha Laird Chapter in Mount Pleasant, Texas.”
“Membership is limited to women 18 and older descended from an ancestor who aided the American Revolution, but the president-general said in 2023 that “transgender women” are eligible under the group’s nondiscrimination policy.”
“Cheering the outcome were members of Daughters for Inclusivity, a countergroup of DAR members in support of ‘welcoming all women’ and the principle that ‘trans women are women.’
“‘Thankfully, the Resolution did not pass,’ said Joy Abshire Laws on the Daughters for Inclusivity page on Facebook.
“‘There is no place for discrimination in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Thank you to the delegates who persevered through a long and grueling vote and chose a path of inclusion, respect, and unity. Now it’s time to move forward together.’
“Teagan Livingston, a self-described ‘trans daughter,’ also thanked members for defeating the proposal, saying on Facebook that ‘I’m over the moon grateful for DAR and the wonderful daughters who showed up!’
“The resolution’s opponents included DAR President-General Ginnie Sebastian Storage, who posted after the vote, ‘Thank you all!’”
“The vote came after a three-year effort by Daughters of Restoration to place the issue before the membership.”