Daughters of the American Revolution Disbands Texas Chapter Over Bylaw Violations
The Martha Laird Chapter in Texas was dissolved by the national organization for alleged violations of its bylaws, not for its stance on transgender membership, DAR officials stated.
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has voted to disband its Martha Laird Chapter in Texas, citing violations of the national organization's bylaws. The decision by the National Board of Management was approved by a two-thirds majority vote, according to a letter sent to chapter members.
The national DAR organization confirmed the dissolution but stated that the action was not due to the chapter's views on membership eligibility, but rather because chapter officers allegedly used the chapter's name, leadership positions, communications, and governance processes to advance the goals of a separate advocacy organization. The Board determined that this use of chapter authority and resources, not the views themselves, constituted conduct discrediting the National Society, as outlined in Article XIX, Section 4 of the National Bylaws.
The Martha Laird Chapter had previously challenged DAR's position on transgender membership, with members advocating for bylaws that would define eligibility based on biological sex. In September 2026, the chapter, supported by 11 other chapters, submitted a proposed bylaw amendment reflecting this stance. This amendment was rejected by the DAR National Board of Management in February 2025.
Members of the Martha Laird Chapter have expressed concerns that the dissolution punishes them for defending the organization's perceived definition. Sonja Shaw, a conservative California superintendent candidate, stated that women's spaces, including organizations like the DAR, are being redefined, and that the women of the Martha Laird Chapter were dissolved for standing their ground.
This action follows legislative efforts in Congress to address DAR's membership policies. In June 2026, Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., introduced the Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act, a bill aimed at amending DAR’s congressional charter to restrict membership to biological women. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
DAR, founded in 1890, has previously stated that its existing policies allowed individuals with legally amended birth certificates to join, provided they met the genealogical requirements. The organization noted that individual members of the dissolved Texas chapter retain their DAR membership and are free to advocate for changes to the National Bylaws through established governance processes.