Roberts v. United States Jaycees

Jaycees provided leadership and management training. The organization had over 300,000 members in the late 1970s.

At the time, the United States Jaycees (USJ) (plaintiff), a social organization, only allowed young men to become full members.

Kathryn Roberts was the Acting Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

Some local Jayceees chapters admitted women. Thus, the central organization brought suits to ensure male exclusivity.

The women-inclusive chapters of Jaycees filed charged of sexism with the Minnesota department of human rights.

Can the United States Jaycees branch in Minnesota prevent women from becoming voting members?

Jaycees national office argued that by requirement them to admit women, the Jaycees were being deprived of their constitutional right of association under the First Amendment. They didn't want to be forced to associate with women in their leadership development training.

A large & un-selective organization is not entitled to First Amendment protection of freedom of association (assembly within the organization).

Jaycees were a commercial organization and shouldn't be exempt from gender discrimination on 1st Amendment grounds.

Allocation of public accommodations based on gender forces people to adhere to streotypes unrelated to their ability; this outcome deprives society of wide participation in political, economic, and cultural activities.