Texas DAR Chapter Fights Disbandment Over Transgender Membership Ban
A Texas chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is fighting forced dissolution after opposing transgender men joining the organization.
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The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), a historic women’s organization, is facing a legal battle from its Texas chapter after it led an initiative to ban trans-identifying men from joining the group. The Martha Laird Chapter, which has been part of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) since 1942, is now taking legal action to prevent its forced dissolution and the seizure of its assets.
Legal Battle Over Membership Policy
The Heritage Legal Action Center filed a temporary restraining order on Monday to stop NSDAR from forcing the Martha Laird Chapter to disband. The chapter spearheaded an effort to change the organization’s bylaws to prohibit men who self-identify as transgender from joining the group. This initiative was discussed at the national meeting of DAR in June 2026.
The temporary restraining order, filed by the Heritage Foundation legal team on behalf of the Martha Laird Chapter, states, “At the center of this controversy is a fundamental disagreement over the future of one of America’s oldest women’s organizations. NSDAR maintains that biological men who identify as women are eligible for membership.” However, members of the Martha Laird Chapter believe the organization, which was founded by and for women, should remain exclusive to women.
DAR leadership did not accept the Martha Laird Chapter’s internal appeal of the decision and declared the disbandment decision “final and would not be reconsidered,” according to the legal filing. The National Board of Management of DAR voted to disband the Texas chapter on October 10, demanding the chapter dissolve and hand over its remaining assets to DAR by November 9.
Advocacy for Sex-Based Rights
Lea Patterson, senior litigation counsel at the Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Wire that DAR leadership is demanding the chapter dissolve and hand over its assets, but the Heritage Foundation is fighting back. “You cannot dissolve a Texas corporation simply by sending a letter from Washington. Manipulating the process to avoid fair and open debate is wrong,” Patterson said.
Patterson also noted that DAR launched an investigation into the Martha Laird Chapter’s advocacy efforts but did not charge the chapter with misconduct. “Those Martha Laird Chapter members, along with other likeminded DAR members around the nation, stood up for the principle that a women’s organization should be for women,” she said. “DAR leadership responded with an investigation into how much the Martha Laird Chapter supported this advocacy while insisting that the chapter was not charged with misconduct. DAR leadership then voted to disband the chapter.”
History and Mission of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Founded in 1890, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) aimed to give women the same opportunities as men to “promote Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism” in the United States. Over its more than 130-year history, DAR has welcomed over a million members, supported American efforts in three major wars, and continues to serve active-duty military members and veterans.
Chapter’s Defense and Concerns
Laura McDonald, a member of the Martha Laird Chapter involved in the effort to change DAR’s bylaws, told The Daily Wire that the chapter believes it has not been given a fair chance to defend itself. “We don’t believe we received a fair opportunity to defend ourselves against the DAR’s infliction of the extraordinary punishment of disbanding our chapter,” she said. “We love DAR and the mission it was founded to serve. That’s why this has been so devastating. And it’s why we are standing up for our chapter and the charitable work it has done.”
McDonald emphasized that the Martha Laird Chapter has been part of DAR since 1942 and that members have “devoted years, and in some cases decades” to serving their communities and preserving American history. She also stated that the chapter is being targeted because of its advocacy for sex-based rights. “The Martha Laird chapter spearheaded the bylaw amendment proposal, and DAR leadership seems to want to make an example of us to stop our advocacy from succeeding,” she said. “We adopted these resolutions through our chapter’s established procedures consistent with the DAR bylaws. We followed DAR’s policies at every point.”
Legal and Organizational Implications
Patterson reiterated that DAR leadership may disagree with the Martha Laird Chapter’s stance, but that does not justify dissolving their organization. “We will fight for these women’s right to be heard,” she said. The legal battle now hinges on whether the temporary restraining order will be upheld and whether the Martha Laird Chapter can successfully challenge the forced dissolution.
The case raises broader questions about the governance and inclusivity of historic women’s organizations. As the Martha Laird Chapter continues its fight, the outcome could set a precedent for similar disputes within other conservative women’s groups. The legal proceedings will determine whether the chapter can retain its status and continue its mission of preserving American history and promoting patriotism, despite the challenges posed by DAR’s leadership.
Source: Daily Wire
