The U.S. Supreme Court case Roberts v. United States Jaycees in 1983 involved a dispute over gender discrimination and freedom of association rights under the First Amendment. The United States Jaycees, a national men's organization, had been ordered by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to admit women as full members under state anti-discrimination laws. The Jaycees argued that this violated their constitutional right to freedom of association because it would alter the group's character and message. However, the Supreme Court ruled against them in a unanimous decision (8-0), stating that Minnesota’s compelling interest in eradicating gender discrimination justified enforcing its law on public accommodations against private groups like the Jaycees even if it interfered with their associational freedoms.

In the dissenting opinion for Roberts v. United States Jaycees, Justice William Rehnquist argued that the Minnesota law violated the First Amendment rights of freedom of association and speech of the U.S. Jaycees organization. He contended that private organizations should have a right to determine their membership criteria without government interference unless there is compelling state interest involved. In this case, he did not see such an interest as gender discrimination was not proven to be a significant societal issue within this context or causing harm warranting state intervention in private associations' affairs. Furthermore, he expressed concern about potential implications on other groups with selective memberships based on attributes like religion or political beliefs if states could dictate membership rules under anti-discrimination laws.