In June of 2023 at the 132nd Continental Congress, an amendment to Article III – Membership of the National Bylaws was adopted that added anti-discrimination language. The President General made it very plain that this amendment was needed in order for the NSDAR to maintain its 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax status.
“Let me answer that, if it’s okay, I’ll just answer straight on. Ok, the wording came from our counsel advising us that we need a public facing statement of how we do not discriminate to protect our tax-exempt nonprofit status and that also includes the tax-exempt status of many of your chapters if you are included under the DAR umbrella.” – President General Pamela Rouse Wright, Business Meeting, 132nd Continental Congress, June 29, 2023
The Bylaw Amendment struck out the words “provided an applicant for chapter membership is personally acceptable to the chapter” and added the words “NSDAR and its chapters may not discriminate against an eligible applicant based on race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.”
Let’s pause right there…
When members ask National and State Officers if this Bylaw Amendment made it possible for men who self identify as women to join the DAR, they’re told no, that the new the language does not mention the word “transgender” and that the amendment had nothing to do with allowing men who self-identify as women to join the DAR.
And yet, when members seek to amend the National Bylaws to close the loophole that allows men to join the DAR, National and State Officers always hearken back to the Bylaw Amendment of 2023, telling members that this issue has already been voted on and that it was passed with overwhelming support!
Both of these claims cannot be true.
This is something that MUST BE ADDRESSED by National and State Officers.
The Bylaw Amendment adopted at the 132 Continental Congress has been very effective in confusing members on this issue.
We need clarity.
If the Amendment to the National Bylaws, Article III, Membership adopted at the 132nd Continental Congress truly had nothing to do with allowing men that self-identify as women to join, then National Officers, State Officers and other members must stop making reference to it as a way to quash efforts to now amend the National Bylaws to close the loophole that allows men who self-identify as women to join the DAR.
Members, if this is brought up, please respectfully push back on this when you seek your chapter’s endorsement of the proposal to amend the National Bylaws, Article III, Membership.