Board of Directors of Rotary International v. Rotary Club of Duarte
United States Supreme Court
481 U.S. 537 (1987)
Rotary Club membership varied widely in size, turned over roughly 10% each year, and required clubs to admit any fully qualified applicant without imposing quotas; meetings were open to visiting Rotarians and invited guests, and the international organization encouraged press coverage of club activities. When a California Rotary club admitted women, Rotary International revoked its charter. The local club and two of its female members (plaintiffs) sued Rotary International's board (defendant) in state court, arguing the revocation violated California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, which the club could invoke only if the Act's application to Rotary did not itself violate the First Amendment.
Whether a state law requiring a historically all-male association to admit female members violates the male members' First Amendment right of private association or expressive association.