The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) made the decision to disband the Martha Laird Chapter in Texas on Saturday, following the chapter’s attempts to prevent transgender women from joining the historic organization, which were seen as violations of national bylaws.
A letter to chapter members from DAR Organizing Secretary General Marguerite Hogan Fritsch indicated that this decision was supported by a two-thirds majority of the National Board of Management.
“On October 10, 2026, at the meeting of the National Board of Management of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, a resolution passed by two-thirds majority vote to disband the Martha Laird Chapter,” Fritsch noted. She also stated that the chapter’s actions were found to violate Article XIX, Section 4 of the National Society’s Bylaws.
However, the letter didn’t specify what particular actions were deemed violations or if the chapter’s stance on transgender membership played a role in the decision.
The National Society confirmed to Fox News Digital that the local Texas chapter was disbanded but clarified that it wasn’t solely about membership views. They explained that the board’s decision stemmed from the chapter’s leaders allegedly using the chapter’s name and resources to promote an agenda of a different advocacy group, which is what led to the disbandment under the relevant bylaws.
Importantly, the board emphasized that the decision was not influenced by the views on membership eligibility or the efforts to amend the National Bylaws.
Interestingly, back in June 2026, national members had voted against a proposal to impose additional membership restrictions. The members of the troublesome Texas chapter remain members of DAR and can still advocate for changes through official channels.
Previously, the Martha Laird Chapter had openly challenged DEC leadership’s policies on transgender membership. Member Laura McDonald expressed concerns last year, arguing that recognizing transgender women contradicted the organization’s founding principles.
“But, then they go on to say that a man who claims he’s a woman is a woman, and therefore he’s eligible for membership. But if you are a man that doesn’t claim to be a woman, you’re not eligible for membership,” McDonald remarked.
Conservative candidate Sonja Shaw, who is running for a superintendent position in California, stated that women and girls are being told that spaces meant to uphold their privacy and dignity, such as sports and locker rooms, are no longer theirs, now including, as she claimed, the DAR.
“The women of the Martha Laird Chapter in Texas stood their ground. They sought to preserve a definition of ‘Daughters’ based on biological sex and asked for a clear vote. On October 10, national leadership dissolved their chapter,” Shaw remarked.
This brings us to the poignant question of why women should be penalized for defending their organization’s definition. Shaw pressed that point heavily, advocating for a future where young women don’t have to seek permission to express their beliefs.
According to DAR’s bylaws, Article XIX, Section 4 allows the National Board of Management to take disciplinary actions against chapters that act against the organization’s standards.
The disbanding of the chapter coincides with the introduction of the Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act by Rep. Ben Cline, which seeks to amend DAR’s congressional charter to limit membership to biological women.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn has since introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
Cline criticized DAR for adopting radical gender ideologies, arguing that it’s against the purpose of the organization meant to honor women.
In September 2024, the Martha Laird Chapter, with backing from 11 other chapters, had submitted a bylaw amendment that sought to define membership based on biological sex. They also received legal help from the Center for American Liberty, challenging the leadership’s claim that excluding transgender people could risk their tax-exempt status.
This amendment was ultimately turned down by the National Board of Management in February 2025. McDonald voiced her disappointment with that decision at the time.
“The rejection of our proposal to define a woman in our bylaws sadly confirms what we knew – that leadership is taking a political stance, driven not by the risk of losing nonprofit status,” McDonald stated.
Traditionally, since its establishment in 1890, DAR had maintained a policy allowing women who have legally amended their birth certificates to join if they also meet the genealogical requirements.
