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History

In the fall of 1990, after lobbying by the University Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Network (UGLBN, now the Queer Student Cultural Center), then-University of Minnesota President Nils Hasselmo established a Select Committee on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Concerns to investigate “the campus climate as experienced by lesbians, gays, and bisexuals." Funding for the committee came from the University Senate and UGLBN through a Philanthrofund grant.

Of particular concern was the conflict between the policy of ROTC excluding gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals from its programs and the University's equal opportunity policy; inequity in University benefits for gay and lesbian families; and an increase in violence directed against gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals on campus.

On November 1, 1993, the Select Committee published its final findings in a report entitled Breaking The Silence. It made five recommendations to address discrimination to GLBT people at the University of Minnesota:

1. Establish a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Programs Office.
   
   
2. Provide a full benefits and privileges package for the families and children of gay and lesbian employees.
   
   
3. Establish a Gay and Lesbian Studies Program.
   
   
4. Develop educational programming on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues and concerns.
   
   
5. Update all printed publications and materials to reflect diversity in sexual orientation.

The GLBT Programs Office was founded in December 1993 under founding director Beth Zemsky. The University of Minnesota was the ninth collegiate institution in the Midwest to establish such an office, and the first such office with "Transgender" in its name.

In June 2006 "Ally" was added to the office's name in recognition of the importance of allies to the GLBT community.