DAR’s 135th Congress Rejected a Trans Exclusion by a Clear Margin
The Daughters of the American Revolution voted to keep trans women eligible for membership at its 135th Continental Congress on July 4, 2026. Members voted 1,481 to 984 against a bylaw amendment that would have defined “woman” as “born female,” ending a two-year internal fight over who qualifies as a “daughter” in the lineage society.
1,481 to 984 The final vote margin at DAR’s Continental Congress rejecting the “born female” definition of woman
The vote was not close. That margin matters because the faction pushing for exclusion had two years to organize and still fell more than 500 votes short.
A Two-Year Internal Campaign Failed to Reverse a 2024 Clarification
The dispute started in 2024, when then-DAR president Pamela Rouse Wright confirmed in a newsletter that trans women had always been eligible to join under the group’s anti-discrimination rule. The clarification drew national attention because the DAR, founded in the late 19th century, is not known for progressive stances. Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the organization after the DAR denied Black singer Marian Anderson permission to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington.
Wright’s statement prompted a counter-campaign. Opponents formed a group called Daughters Advocating for Restoration to push the bylaw change. Supporters responded with Daughters for Inclusivity.
“I cannot fathom that a group formed because of prejudice against women is now doing the same thing to our trans sisters. The irony is mind-blowing to me.”
DAR member, writing on the Daughters for Inclusivity Facebook page
The DAR itself was founded after the Sons of the American Revolution refused to admit women. That history gave the pro-inclusion side a sharp argument, and it landed.
Why a Private Lineage Society’s Vote Matters in 2026
The DAR decision arrives as trans Americans face ongoing federal and state restrictions on healthcare, identification documents, and participation in public life. Private institutions are not bound by anti-discrimination law in the same way government bodies are, which means these votes are discretionary. That makes them a direct signal of where a membership’s values actually sit.
Ben Takai, a board member at Metro DC PFLAG, said in 2024 that Wright’s original statement “sends a message” precisely because the DAR is not seen as a progressive organization. The membership vote this month makes that message harder to dismiss as one leader’s opinion.
What You Can Do Now
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Contact your senators at (202) 224-3121 and tell them to oppose any federal legislation that would define “woman” in ways that exclude trans people from civil rights protections. The Equality Act has remained stalled in the Senate; ask your senator by name where they stand.
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Reach your representative through the House switchboard at (202) 225-3121 and ask them to publicly oppose executive orders and agency rules that strip gender marker recognition from federal IDs and passports. Passport gender marker restrictions went into effect in 2025 and remain in force.
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Find your state PFLAG chapter at pflag.org/find-a-chapter and connect with local advocacy. PFLAG chapters organize direct outreach to institutions, schools, and employers facing similar membership or policy decisions.
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If your employer or civic organization has not reviewed its membership or nondiscrimination policies, raise it. Ask HR or your organization’s board in writing whether gender identity is explicitly protected. Put the request in writing so it is on record.
Sources
LGBTQ Nation: Daughters of the American Revolution Votes to Keep Trans Members
The Washingtonian: DAR President Confirms Trans Women Are Welcome in the Organization
PFLAG: Find a Local Chapter for Trans Advocacy and Support
Smithsonian Magazine: Marian Anderson and the DAR Controversy That Made Eleanor Roosevelt Resign
Daughters of the American Revolution: Organization History and Membership Bylaws