Queer Resource Center (University of California, Berkeley)

The Students for Gay Power was established at the University of California, Berkeley in 1969. In 1972 the group changed its name to Gay Students Union; in 1976 it became the Gay Peoples Union; in 1981 it became the Gay and Lesbian Union; and in 1984 it became the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Alliance. A final name change took place in 1988, to the Multicultural Bisexual Gay Lesbian Alliance. The Queer Resource Center, established in 1992 as a successor group, provided support, referral and information services for the gay community at Berkeley, documenting the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students at Berkeley and working towards the creation of policies that encompass the experience of these students. The Queer Resource Center inherited the files of its various predecessor organizations.

From the description of Queer Resource Center records, 1972-1992. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 54050412

Administrative History

The Students for Gay Power was established at the University of California, Berkeley in 1969 to be "a campus group involved in the gay liberation movement." Even its recognition required a ruling by the university's General Counsel, and its first dance in 1970 occasioned correspondence and memoranda about the legality of the event. In 1972 the group changed its name to Gay Students Union, possibly to appear less objectionable and established its first affiliation with the Associated Students, although it received no ASUC funding until 1974. In 1976 it became the Gay Peoples Union, in 1981 it became the Gay and Lesbian Union, and in 1984 it became the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Alliance. A final name change took place in 1988, to the Multicultural Bisexual Gay Lesbian Alliance. These groups held awareness programs as well as a regular schedule of social events for the gay community.

The Multicultural Lesbian Gay Studies, later the Multicultural Bisexual Lesbian Gay Studies Program, established in 1982, promoted the establishment of lesbian and gay studies courses and academic programs at Berkeley. The Queer Resource center, established in 1992 as a successor group, provided support, referral and information services for the community at Berkeley, documenting the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students at Berkeley and working towards the creation of policies that encompass the experience of these students. The Queer Resource Center inherited the files of its various predecessor organizations.

From the guide to the Queer Resource Center Records, 1970-1992, (The Bancroft Library. University Archives.)

Administrative History

The Queer Resource Center was established in 1992, but the history of gay related organizations on the Berkeley campus goes back to 1969 with the establishment of Students for Gay Power. It provided support, referral and information services for the gay community on campus, and in the course of its activities it established a library and maintained information files of interest to the gay community.

From the guide to the Queer Resource Center resource files, ca. 1971-1996, (The Bancroft Library. University Archives.)