A judge has temporarily barred the national leadership of the Daughters of the American Revolution from disbanding a Texas chapter that limits membership to biological women, according to the legal group representing the chapter.
The Martha Laird Chapter opposed admitting transgender women. In early October, the DAR’s national leadership voted to dissolve the chapter, saying it had breached the organization’s bylaws.
The Heritage Foundation’s Legal Action Center, which is representing the chapter in its lawsuit against the national organization, welcomed the court order. Senior litigation counsel Lea Patterson said the ruling protects the 84-year-old chapter while the legal dispute continues. She said national leaders had tried to silence members by dissolving the chapter.
Patterson also said the chapter’s members had used DAR procedures to push for change and should not be penalized for expressing their views. She accused the national organization of shutting down debate and attempting to take the chapter’s assets without a fair process.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution confirmed that its board voted to disband the chapter, but said the decision was not based on members’ views about who should be admitted. The organization said the chapter had used the DAR name, its leadership structure and its official communications to advance the goals of a separate advocacy group.
The national organization said the temporary restraining order does not decide whether its board’s decision was valid. It said it is complying with the order and believes the board acted within its authority under the bylaws. The organization did not respond to a further request for comment about its claim involving the advocacy group.
Political strategist and former senior Senate adviser Mary Marslender also supported the ruling. She said women’s organizations should not be pressured to set aside biological sex, and praised the Texas chapter for defending its position. Marslender said the judge’s order halted an effort to undermine a historic women’s group.
