1989 – women join Rotary

Transcript :

Before 1989, the Manual of Procedure indicated that Rotary-Clubs were composed of “ adult and male persons ” which prohibited them from admitting women.

But a movement of opinion was beginning to emerge, mainly in the USA, taking into account women’s increasing access to economic responsibilities.

The Rotary-Club of Duarte, California, then took the liberty of admitting 2 women, in violation of the statutory clauses.

Threatened to have his Charter withdrawn, he brought a lawsuit against Rotary International, which went all the way to the Supreme Court, citing gender segregation.

The clause reserving Clubs for male members was declared illegal in the American States.

Since there could be no different statutes in the U.S. and the rest of the world, a decision was required and it was taken, according to Rotary’s democratic rules, at the 1989 Council on Legislation, by a majority of voting delegates.