As a newer member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), as well as a college student, Young Women for America (YWA) Ambassador, and most importantly, a Christian conservative who loves God and country, I feel uniquely positioned to address an issue that reaches far beyond one organization. In June, the DAR hosted its 135th Continental Congress during which delegates voted 1,481 to 984 to defeat a resolution, viewable only by delegates, that would have defined “woman” as female at birth for purposes of DAR membership. Two days later, President General Ginnie Sebastian Storage assured members that anyone feeling discouraged remains a “valued Daughter” and that the decision deserved the membership’s respect. Since the vote, however, the controversy has continued. In a subsequent email to members, Storage rejected requests for an October special meeting, arguing that the resolution had already been fully considered and decided. She described the process as providing extensive notice, nearly three hours of debate, and a secret paper ballot. Members who were present have disputed that characterization, citing confusion surrounding the resolution, concerns about the timing of notice, restrictions on leaving the meeting, and a public stand-to-vote process. These conflicting accounts raise serious questions about whether members were given a fair and meaningful opportunity to understand and decide on what they were voting.
Beyond the question of how the vote was conducted, an even more fundamental question must be asked: What does it mean to be a Daughter of the American Revolution? DAR membership requires documented, generation-by-generation proof of direct descent from a patriot who aided American independence between April 19, 1775, and November 26, 1783. The organization has extensive genealogical requirements and accepts certain forms of DNA evidence to establish biological lineage. The DAR itself describes eligibility as being open to women who can prove lineal descent from a Revolutionary patriot. If biological ancestry is essential in determining who is a “Daughter” of the Revolution, why should biological sex be irrelevant in determining what a woman is? This leads to the broader questions at the heart of this controversy: Why are organizations created to honor women increasingly redefining womanhood in the name of inclusivity? How did we get here, and what can we do about it?
The answer requires studying the organization’s history. The Sons of the American Revolution was founded in 1889, and DAR’s founding soon followed in 1890 by women who wanted to express their patriotism and preserve America’s Revolutionary heritage. The DAR explains that its founders were women who were frustrated by their exclusion from men’s hereditary organizations and therefore created their own. Today, its mission remains centered on historic preservation, education, and patriotism, with the motto “God, Home, and Country.” Still, transgender membership has become a significant point of division. Some chapters have sought to define “woman,” while members on opposing sides have formed groups such as Daughters for Inclusivity and Daughters Advocating for Restoration. The disagreement demonstrates that this is no longer simply a question of membership policy; it is a debate over whether sex itself can be objectively defined.
This debate reflects a much larger cultural shift. First-wave feminism focused on women’s suffrage and basic legal and property rights. Second-wave feminism expanded into workplace equality, reproductive rights, and social inequality. Later waves introduced concepts such as intersectionality, sex positivity, and postmodern understandings of gender. Today, gender identity is increasingly separated from biological sex, with legislation such as the proposed Equality Act seeking to add gender identity as a protected category. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) replaced “Gender Identity Disorder” with “Gender Dysphoria” in 2013. While the current diagnosis focuses on distress associated with incongruence between experienced gender and biological sex rather than labeling transgender identity itself as a disorder, the broader cultural movement continues to challenge the idea that biological sex determines womanhood.
What modern-day feminists may not realize is that as they continue to row their boat so hard on one side in pursuit of progressive ideas of “empowerment,” they risk ending up exactly where they started: with no uniquely defined category of womanhood to protect. If “woman” can mean anyone who identifies as a woman, what ultimately distinguishes women’s rights, women’s spaces, women’s sports, or women’s organizations?
For Christians, this question cannot be answered by culture alone. The Bible establishes sex as part of God’s created order: “male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Scripture also warns against adding to or taking away from God’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). The DAR is not a Christian organization, but its motto begins with God, making this conflict particularly significant for Christian members. We cannot claim to honor God while discarding Biblical truth whenever it becomes culturally inconvenient. Our womanhood and femininity are established by our Creator, not by shifting cultural standards or feelings. This does not mean Christians should treat those with whom they disagree without dignity; every person is made in God’s image. But compassion does not require confusion, and kindness does not require abandoning truth. Accommodation is not sustainable when it comes at the expense of women’s safety, privacy, or the very categories created to protect women.
There are, however, practical steps we can take to address this issue. On July 15, 2026, Congressman Ben Cline introduced the Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act, which would amend the DAR’s federal charter to limit membership to women who otherwise meet the organization’s genealogical requirements. The bill has received support from several organizations and congressional Republicans, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee).
Ultimately, protecting women requires more than legislation. It requires prayer, courage, and a commitment to objective truth. We must be willing to defend women’s spaces while treating every individual with dignity and respect. Progress should never require us to erase reality. As believers, we are called to speak truth with grace and stand firm when truth becomes unpopular. While activists may insist that diversity is the nation’s greatest strength, unity around foundational principles is what holds a nation together.
One Nation. Under God.
*Maggie Dowd is a Young Women for America (YWA) Ambassador in Georgia.
