Minnesota State University’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center today will get a name change that honors the activist and civil rights pioneer who started it 30 years ago.
The LGBT Center officially becomes the Jim Chalgren LGBT Center in a ceremony at 4 p.m. today at the center. It comes after the center waged a fundraising campaign that pulled in $100,000.
Chalgren was the tireless advocate who fought against discrimination against gays and lesbians.
When he founded the LGBT Center in 1977 — which was then called the Alternative Lifestyles office — it was only the second such center at a U.S. university. When the center first opened, Chalgren ran the program out of a closet in the student union. At that time, Chalgren was a graduate student in the counseling and student personnel program.
“He was a maverick whose tireless efforts to challenge prejudice, educate students and fight for change built the foundation for the vibrant presence the LGBT Center ultimately established on campus and in the community,” a statement issued by the center said.
Chalgren’s work garnered him national attention. One issue in particular landed Chalgren’s work in The New York Times. He and others asked the city of Mankato to amend its human rights ordinance to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The ordinance failed by one vote. Chalgren, who had vowed to leave town if the measure failed, left.
He continued his work for gay rights and awareness until his death from AIDS complications in 2000.
In his memory, the Jim Chalgren Award is given to one MSU staff or faculty member who has acted as a visible and courageous supporter of the LGBT community and the center.
In 1994 the center changed its name to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Center. The word transgender was officially added to the center's name in fall 2002.
From its inception until 2004, the center was staffed with only a part-time graduate assistant and student volunteers. That changed in the spring of 2003 when students waged a sit-in at the president’s office. After that, the president agreed to fund a full-time director for the office.
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