Women leave Daughters of the American Revolution after it accepts men
Controversy Surrounding the Daughters of the American Revolution
Another wave of Daughters of the American Revolution members is contemplating leaving the national genealogical society after it doubled down on allowing men to infiltrate the formerly all-female organization.
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) national bylaws previously required applicants to be women who “prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence.” But national DAR leadership has quietly, for years now, without the knowledge of its members, allowed men with altered birth certificates to join DAR chapters across the United States.
“Right there, you’ve corrupted the lineage possibilities for true patriots because we always have to prove our lineage,” Debby McDermott, a decade-long DAR member and chaplain of Liberty Bell Chapter, told The Federalist.
The DAR officially amended its policies last year to include transgender members. After several attempts to reverse the change, 12 chapters suggested amendments that would require members to “have the biological characteristics of a female in the context of reproductive potential or capacity such as sex chromosomes and naturally occurring sex hormones.” They also asked the national organization to “remove all non-discrimination policy language” about potential members and require members to offer original birth certificate or DNA proof that they are females.
The proposal easily satisfied the national bylaw demands that at least 10 chapters from five states offer endorsements for the amendments to attain national review. Yet on Feb. 10, DAR’s National Board of Management rejected the endorsement in an almost unanimous vote.
Hit Them Where It Hurts
When the DAR went public with the “additional non-discrimination language” amendment at its 132nd Continental Congress last year, several members decided to leave the society by either resigning or refusing to pay dues. The Nevada Sagebrush Chapter alone lost at least nine women, including its former secretary Brenda Becker. She estimates a DAR membership drop across the United States as between 14 and 18 percent since last year.
Becker stuck out her membership long enough to join a coalition of chapters that asked the National Bylaws Committee in October to revert the bylaw. But when DAR President General Pamela Rouse Wright confirmed, shortly before the board decided on the reversion proposal, that men masquerading as women could join the female society, Becker knew it was time to go.
“People are not as interested in the DAR in the big picture because they see us as being older women. We’re not like Riley Gaines out there with all the attention. But there are 190,000 or 185,000 members in DAR. I mean, that’s a lot of people,” Becker said.
Others, like McDermott, are contemplating whether to stay and fight DAR nationals over the policy shift or resign from the organization they’ve known and loved for years.
“I’m having a difficult time with my decision to stay or go. If I go, I can’t fight, but if I stay, I’m going against my beliefs,” McDermott said. “God created man and woman, and there’s only two, so being with an organization that is accepting multiple genders goes against my belief in God.”
McDermott said she loves spending time with her local chapter volunteering because it gives her community and support, especially after she became a widow. The problem with continuing membership, she said, is that most of her dues will go to support nationals and their policies.
Because of the DAR’s trickle-down system, McDermott’s Liberty Bell chapter will be forced to adopt the new bylaws and could be asked to accept male members soon.
“I think until it financially hits them, that they have really made a mistake, it’s not going to make a difference to them. If it hits them in the pocketbook, maybe that would make a difference. That’s the other reason I’d leave,” McDermott said
Becker said there is some talk of “having an informational picket or protests” during DAR’s Continental Congress this summer. Until then, ex-members and members with concerns about the society’s desire to become more “inclusive” will continue protesting the decision to allow males in an explicitly and historically female organization.
“It’s so discouraging that it’s something that I always was proud to be a member of because I am a patriot and that’s a very special thing. Now, it’s just soiled, it’s dirty. It’s no longer the beautiful club that I thought it was,” McDermott said.
How has the controversy surrounding the DAR’s decision to allow men to join impacted the organization and its members?
Title: The Controversy Surrounding the Daughters of the American Revolution
Introduction:
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has recently faced a significant controversy that has led to members contemplating leaving the organization. This controversy revolves around the organization’s decision to allow men to join the formerly all-female society, which has raised questions about the integrity of the lineage of true patriots. This article will provide an overview of the controversy, including the organization’s history, the changes made to their membership policies, and the impact it has had on the DAR and its members.
History and Membership Requirements:
The DAR, founded in 1890, is a lineage-based membership organization for women who can prove direct descent from individuals who supported the American Revolution. Its primary goals include promoting education and patriotism. Until recently, the DAR’s national bylaws required applicants to be women who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence.
Controversial Changes to Membership Policies:
According to recent reports, the DAR leadership has quietly allowed men with altered birth certificates to join DAR chapters across the United States without the knowledge of its members. This decision has raised concerns among longtime DAR members about the corruption of lineage possibilities for true patriots, as it undermines the historical foundation and purpose of the organization.
Amendments and Rejection:
Last year, the DAR officially amended its policies to include transgender members. However, in response, 12 chapters proposed amendments that would require members to have biological characteristics of females in the context of reproductive potential or capacity, such as sex chromosomes and naturally occurring sex hormones. They also requested the removal of all non-discrimination policy language about potential members and the requirement for original birth certificates or DNA proof of female gender.
Despite satisfying the national bylaw demands for endorsements from at least 10 chapters in five states, the proposed amendments were rejected by DAR’s National Board of Management in an almost unanimous vote on February 10.
Impact and Membership Decline:
The controversy surrounding the DAR membership policies has resulted in an adverse impact on the organization. Several members decided to leave the society either by resigning or refusing to pay dues. Reports suggest that the Nevada Sagebrush Chapter alone lost at least nine women, estimating a membership drop of 14 to 18 percent across the United States since last year.
Conclusion:
The controversy surrounding the Daughters of the American Revolution centers around their decision to allow men to join the organization, which goes against its longstanding tradition as an all-female lineage-based society. The changes in membership policies have led to a decline in membership and raised concerns about the integrity of the DAR’s lineage and commitment to the ideals of the American Revolution. The debate continues within the organization, as some members advocate for redefining the DAR’s mission and membership requirements to address these concerns.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...