Grandma Carol

My formal, open letter of resignation to leadership. Dear Director, Thank you for your thoughtful letter noting my absence from meetings over the past three months. I appreciate the time and care you took to reach out. I joined the Daughters of the American Revolution because I believed it to be a non-political organization of women dedicated to preserving our shared heritage and the principles of liberty—especially freedom of speech—for which our ancestors risked everything. Those principles, and the simple fact of biological womanhood as the foundation of membership, were central to my decision to become a member. Over time I have come to the conclusion that the National Society has moved away from that understanding. The decision to treat biological males who identify as women as eligible for membership has placed the organization at the center of one of the most divisive political questions in our society. What I had hoped would remain a private, lineage-based society of women has become entangled in a controversy that many of us never sought and that has made respectful participation increasingly difficult. My absence has not been casual; it has reflected a growing inability to reconcile continued involvement with the values that led me to join. I must also note a personal dimension. My husband is the primary provider in our household and has paid the dues that support the Society. Those funds are now directed toward policies that stand in clear opposition to his deeply held conservative Christian convictions. Continuing to contribute under these circumstances is no longer something either of us can do in good conscience. Finally, the recent dissolution of the Martha Laird Chapter—whose members sought, through ordinary governance channels, to clarify that membership is limited to women born female—has only deepened my concern. Silencing organized dissent on a question of such fundamental importance to the Society’s identity is difficult to square with the free-speech principles the organization was founded to honor. Our patriot ancestors did not accept the suppression of legitimate disagreement; they resisted it. For these reasons, I have decided to resign my membership. I do so with regret for the loss of what the Society once represented to me, and with appreciation for the personal kindness shown by local members and leadership. I wish you and the chapter well. Sincerely, Jennifer Reeser 4th Great Granddaughter to DAR Patriot James Maiden, 6th Great Granddaughter to Founding Father, Richard Henry Lee @SusanMcLaughli2 @missarah68 @TodaysDAR @marcir4 @darestoration @MZHemingway @michaeljknowles @amjuster