Daughters of the American Revolution To Vote On The Term "Woman" Today

Commonly known as the DAR, the Daughters of the American Revolution, are scheduled to vote on a resolution today, Friday, June 26th, 2026, which would clarify that in the bylaws of the DAR, the term "woman" shall be understood to clearly mean a woman who was born female. With the resolution thereby making all individuals who were born male ineligible for membership. The proposed resolution also specifies that transgender women shall not be eligible for membership into the DAR as well as men who have their birth certificates changed from male to female. It is a resolution that the nonprofit, Daughters Advocating for Restoration, has been working hard to have put to a vote in the organization. For after a Nevada chapter of the DAR submitted an amendment to define the term "woman", the President General of the DAR at the time, Pamela Wright, stated the DAR would "continue to welcome" the trans-identified men, "into our Society in the future."

Founded in 1890, the Daughters of the American Revolution is a service organization with its headquarters located in Washington D.C. While it is a society that promotes service to "God, Home, and Country", it also features a heavy genealogical component to it. As the society is open to any lady 18 or older who can prove direct lineal bloodline descent from a patriot who aided the American Revolution. It is a society that has nearly 3,000 chapters throughout the USA and even abroad. Their annual society-wide meeting is referred to as the Continental Congress. With the proposed resolution defining a "woman" being considered for a vote during today's 135th Continental Congress of the DAR.

In Alabama, the DAR is known for supporting the Kate Duncan Smith K-12 public school in Grant, Alabama. Which is commonly referred to in the area as the "DAR High School". With the DAR High School being one of two schools in the USA that is owned by the DAR. It was originally founded in 1924 by the DAR and features an average enrollment of around 1,300 students on a yearly basis. In Mobile, the local DAR chapter operates the Richards DAR House Museum. Which is an antebellum Italianate mansion featuring cast-iron balconies, Bohemian glass, and Baccarat chandeliers. The DAR in Alabama also funded annual essay contests for school aged children that raise awareness of American history. With the DAR in Alabama also sponsoring an annual Alabama Day essay contest that is open to adults, as well. The Governor of the State of Alabama, Kay Ivey, is a member of the Anne Phillips Chapter of the DAR.

The Sons of the American Revolution is an organization open to men that also focuses on service to the community as part of their way of honoring their, "Revolutionary War patriot ancestors." According to the bylaws of the SAR, "Any male shall be eligible for membership in the SAR who is a citizen of good repute in the community; and a lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to and rendered acceptable service in the cause of American Independence." The Children of the American Revolution, commonly known as the "CAR" is open to both boys and girls under the age of 22 who can trace their lineage to a Revolutionary War Patriot. With its focus being to helps train young people in leadership and genealogy.

While the Daughters Advocating for Restoration has advocated hard for the resolution defining "woman" that is being placed for a vote in today's meeting of the Continental Congress, there is another group comprised of DAR members who oppose the resolution and want to continue allowing trans-identified men into the DAR. Their group is known as "The Daughters for Inclusivity". One trans-identified member, Teagan Livingston, who is part of "The Daughters for Inclusivity" has expressed her support of the group and for those in it, especially, "in this current political climate".

The founder of the Daughters Advocating for Restoration, Laura McDonald, has stated that, "We must know that we are here in this place only because of what God has already done and because He has a plan. Nothing we do here matters if not done in service to The Lord. We are on a mission for restoration not because of who we are, but because of who He is."

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa attorney, piano instructor, vocalist, poet, reporter, and columnist who writes on politics, current affairs, and the arts.