A number of NDSU Librarians identify as allies and have completed Safe Zone training. If you have suggestions about changes or additions to this guide or are in need of research support and would prefer to work with a known ally, please contact:

Lisa Eggebraaten (she/her), Research and Access Librarian, Klai Juba Wald Architectural Studies Library and Business Learning Center

Nicole Juve (she/her), Agricultural Sciences Librarian

Maddi Melquist (she/her), Humanities Librarian

Community Organizations & Resources

Pride Collective A Fargo-Moorhead collective and community center aiming to create a sense of community and promote education and social activities aimed at furthering the social and physical well-being and development of the LGBT community in the Red River Valley

Dakota OutRight Their mission is to serve the LGBTQIA community of central and western North Dakota by increasing visibility, providing resources and information, advocating for equality, and creating safe spaces for connection, support, and celebration.

Community Uplift Program Exists to bolster the visibility of the LGBTQ+ population and coordinate resources for those community members. We offer trainings to help organizations become more culturally sensitive and aware.

NDSU Pride Alliance Founded on the hopes of bringing the LGBTQIA+ community of the Fargo/Moorhead Tri-College area together through events that promote safety and acceptance.

Two Spirit Society & Allies of North Dakota A nonprofit organization focused on the native community.

Harbor Health Initiative Works with health organizations across the state to encourage more providers to start offering hormone therapy as part of standard care, for pediatricians to start screening for gender identity, and for all doctors to be better trained in LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency.

Tristate Transgender A support group that meets in Fargo each month on the third Saturday, spreading awareness and support for transgender people in the MN, SD, and ND area.

Minnesota Two Spirit Society Their mission is to promote cultural awareness of Two Spirit people in Minnesota and surrounding communities based on a foundation of intertribal traditions and values.

Books

Click here to browse a collection of LGBTQ books from the NDSU Libraries,

Archival Materials

The NDSU Archives primarily collects documents, photographs, publications and other items focusing on the history of the university, the state of North Dakota and its people.

Breaking Barriers: Harvesting LGBTQ Stories from the Northern Plains North Dakota Humanities Council approved oral history project, conducted by the Pride Collective and the Red River Rainbow Seniors, to gather the history of LGBTQ people in North Dakota and Northern Minnesota in your own words.

Rainbow Press Newsletter Newsletter produced by the PFLAG chapter of Fargo/Moorhead.

Prairie Lesbian/Gay Community Records, 1979-1994 Contain information about the openly gay and lesbian Fargo-Moorhead community from the 1980s into the 1990s. The newsletters of the PLGC, spanning fifteen years, provide a detailed look at the organization’s activities and concerns. 

Jon G. Lindgren Fargo Mayoral Records, 1976-1994 These files cover some of the most controversial issues of Lindgren's political career as Fargo mayor. His signing of proclamations designating Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week was controversial, with documents on both sides of the issue in the collection.

The Ten Percent Society, Originally a Tri-College University organization from 1989-2004, was created with the expressed purpose of providing “a system of educational, emotional and spiritual support for gay lesbian or bisexual students, faculty and staff.”

Fargo-Moorhead PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Records, 1988-2004 Established in September 1986. “Our group of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Parents-Flag, or P-Flag) is part of a large network of Parents, family members, and friends across the country who meet to support each other in the effort to understand our gay and lesbian children and friends.” 

Unprocessed Collections

An unprocessed collection is a group of items we have received, but have not yet had time to examine and organize.

Larry Peterson Collection: NDSU History Professor who has worked extensively with the LGBQT community in Fargo-Moorhead including the 10% Society, N.D. Human Rights Commission, and Equality North Dakota.

To view this collection, make an appointment with the NDSU Archives by calling: 701-231-8914

Government Information

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health General information on LGBT health issues and "health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights."

Top Health Issues for LGBT Populations Information & Resource Kit Provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). Presents an overview of current health issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations.  "This kit aims to create awareness among prevention specialists and healthcare providers of the needs, experiences, and health status of LGBT Americans."

LGBT Youth Resources (Health) The health needs of LGBT youth can differ from their heterosexual peers. On this page, find resources from the CDC, other government agencies, and community organizations for LGBT youth, their friends, educators, parents, and family members to support positive environments."

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender "Resources on the LGBT population include national survey reports, agency and federal initiatives, and related behavioral health resources."

Bullying and LGBT Youth "Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) youth and those perceived as LGBT are at an increased risk of being bullied. There are important and unique considerations for strategies to prevent and address bullying of LGBT youth."

Stonewall National Monument “The Stonewall Inn, a bar located in Greenwich Village, New York City, was the scene of an uprising against police repression that led to a key turning point in the struggle for the civil rights of LGBT Americans.” Includes links to information on the history of LGBTQ Americans.

LGBTQ History in Government Documents: Home This guide by Jesse Silva (UC Berkeley) and Kelly L. Smith (UC San Diego) highlights “a number of primary sources documenting the U.S. federal government's stance on issues related to the LGBT movement from the 1800s to the present day.”

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month The Library of Congress has a great site on the history of LGBT Pride Month.

U.S. Census
Starting in July of 2021 the U.S. Census is asking about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in the Household Pulse Survey. This is the first time census is asking about sexual orientation and gender identity. Look for the Household Pulse Survey. This survey is being used for reports like: LGBT Adults More Likely to Report Living in Households With Food and Economic Insecurity Than Non-LGBT Respondents

Handouts

Parents’ Influence on the Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Teens: What Parents and Families Should Know This fact sheet provides information on how parents can promote positive health outcomes for their lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) teen.

A Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers Provides guidance to employers on best practices regarding restroom access for transgender workers. OSHA’s goal is to assure that employers provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees.

What You Should Know About EEOC and the Enforcement Protections for LGBT Workers The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission interprets and enforces Title VII's prohibition of sex discrimination as forbidding any employment discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. These protections apply regardless of any contrary state or local laws. 

Health Information

Healthcare Bill of Rights This guide explains the rights LGBT people have when they go see a healthcare provider.

LGBT National Health Center Serving gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & questioning people by providing free and confidential peer-support and local resources.

World Professional Association for Transgender Health WPATH is a non-profit, interdisciplinary professional and educational organization devoted to transgender health.

Medline Plus: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Health LGBTQ individuals have special health concerns besides the usual ones that affect most people. On this page you'll find information about health issues specific to these communities.

2015 U.S. Transgender Survey From the National Center for Transgender Equality. Provides a detailed look at the experiences of transgender people across a wide range of categories, such as education, employment, family life, health, housing, and interactions with the criminal justice system. 

Inclusive Sex Education for LGBTQ Youth From GLESN, and organization focused ensuring that all students are valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Sage: Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders A national advocacy and services organization that’s been looking out for LGBT elders since 1978.

Evaluating Health Information Health information can be extremely useful, empowering us to make important health decisions. However, health information also can be confusing and overwhelming. Given the wealth of information available through the Internet, journals and other sources, it's important to be able to assess its quality.

What does LGBTQIA2S+ mean?

L	Lesbian: A woman whose primary sexual orientation is toward people of the same gender.
G	Gay: A sexual orientation toward people of the same gender.
B	Bisexual: A person whose primary sexual and affectional       orientation is toward people of the same and other genders, or towards people regardless of their gender.
T	Transgender: Used most often as an umbrella term, some commonly held definitions: 1. Someone whose gender identity or expression does not fit (dominant-group social constructs of) assigned birth sex and gender. 2. A gender outside of the man/woman binary. 3. Having no gender or multiple genders.
Q	Queer: This can include, but is not limited to, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and asexual people. This term has different meanings to different people. Some still find it offensive, while others reclaim it to encompass the broader sense of history of the gay rights movement. Can also be used as an umbrella term like LGBT, as in "the queer community."
I	Intersex: People who, without medical intervention, develop primary or secondary sex characteristics that do not fit “neatly” into society's definitions of male or female. Many visibly intersex people are mutilated in infancy and early childhood by doctors to make the individual’s sex characteristics conform to society’s idea of what normal bodies should look like. Intersex people are relatively common, although society's denial of their existence has allowed very little room for intersex issues to be discussed publicly.
A	Asexual: Generally characterized by not feeling sexual attraction or a desire for partnered sexuality. Asexuality is distinct from celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity.
2S	Two-Spirit:  Though Two-Spirit may now be included in the umbrella of LGBTQ, the term "Two-Spirit" does not simply mean someone who is a Native American/Alaska Native and gay. Traditionally, Native American two-spirit people were male, female, and sometimes intersexed individuals who combined activities of both men and women with traits unique to their status as two-spirit people. In most tribes, they were considered neither men nor women; they occupied a distinct, alternative gender status. In tribes where two-spirit males and females were referred to with the same term, this status amounted to a third gender. In other cases, two-spirit females were referred to with a distinct term and, therefore, constituted a fourth gender. Although there were important variations in two-spirit roles across North America, they shared some common traits: read more
+	This symbol represents the many other ways people define themselves.