The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is one of America's oldest and most respected lineage organizations. Founded in 1890 by women who were excluded from the Sons of the American Revolution, membership is limited to women not less than 18 years of age who can prove lineal descent from a Patriot who supported American independence during the Revolutionary War. 

Today, one of those seemingly straightforward membership requirements sits at the center of a very modern controversy: whether trans-identifying men should be admitted to a historic women's organization. In October 2023, then-President General Pamela Rouse Wright, in her monthly message, stated, “Some have asked if this means a transgender woman can join DAR or if this means that DAR chapters have previously welcomed transgender women? The answer to both questions is, yes.” With that confirmation, members learned that DAR leadership had quietly admitted applicants using amended birth records for some time. For an organization known for exacting genealogical standards and rigorous documentation, the revelation came as a shock to many members. 

On June 26, 2026, more than 3,000 Daughters gathered at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., for a historic vote on a resolution that would have interpreted the word “woman” in the DAR's bylaws as “a woman who was born female.” More than 90 chapters from 33 states had requested a Special Meeting on the resolution, after repeated efforts over the previous three years to bring the issue before the membership had been denied by DAR leadership. 

On January 15, 2025, the National Society........

© Townhall