Woman’s Club of Fort Worth allowed a trans woman to join. Some members weren’t happy.
Several members of the Woman’s Club of Fort Worth recently resigned after the century-old civic organization allowed a transgender woman to join.
The transgender woman has since resigned, too, according to a statement from the group, which declined an interview request from the Star-Telegram. Instead, the Woman’s Club sent a statement and said a spokesperson isn’t available because the new board will not meet until June.
“The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth is not open to men, nor do we have any men on the membership roll,” the statement reads. “We received and accepted an application from a transgender woman which led to some member resignations, including that of the applicant.
“We are empathetic to the identity and experiences of transgender individuals as integral to the broader spectrum of womanhood. We hear the needs of the transgender community, and it is clear that we need to formally discuss and address the matter of allowing transgender women into our organization. It is a conversation we will need to have in the near future, but one that we are not prepared for today.
“Our organization has always strived to be a safe and welcoming space for women of all backgrounds, and we will continue to do so as we reflect on the evolving understanding of gender identity in our society.”
The 101-year-old nonprofit was “formed to empower women through educational programming in the areas of literature, history, science, fine arts, and other areas of personal and professional development,” according to its mission statement. It has 52 clubs and departments to provide network opportunities.
Its Historical Preservation Trust has provided more than $1.7 million to help preserve historic buildings since its founding in 1973, and its scholarship foundation has awarded $613,000, including 17 scholarships totaling $17,000 this year.
An inclusion policy adopted in 2020 by the board of directors says the club of “diverse women” welcomes women of all backgrounds and does not condone racism or intolerance.
