The Queer Resource Center began in the early 2000s as a series of student organizations under various names (Queers and Allies, PSU LGBT Roundtable).
- 2003-2004: Incidents exposed the need for the QRC to expand its focus from a gathering place to a campus resource and referral agency. Students identified staff and faculty allies, hosted open forums, and convened stakeholders.
- 2005: One graduate student and two student staff members helped to found a speaker series, targeted trainings, a lending library, and a volunteer program.
- 2006: QRC student staff convened their advisory board to define staff roles and expectations, further refine high-profile events, and open the doors of a physical Queer Resource Center space in Smith Memorial Student Union. Increased visibility allowed more students to access the QRC with complex needs around advocacy, advising and crisis intervention.
- 2007: Stakeholders created a plan to transition from a student group to a department within student affairs with a professional staff trained to manage finances, support student staff, provide continuity and institutional memory, and to grow the center as new needs arise.
- 2010: The plan was implemented and fully completed.
- 2011: The Queer Resource Center launched its first Queer Students of Color Conference (QSOCC), one of the first of its kind, now held annually in Spring.
- 2012-2013: The Queer Resource Center supported the creation of the first all-gender bathroom on campus in Smith Memorial Student Union. Now all new building and updates buildings house at least one all-gender bathroom.
- 2018: The Trans Resources and Retention Coordinator at the Queer Resource Center organized the first Trans Action and Care Conference (TACC), now held annually in November.
- 2019-2020: The Queer Resource Center shifts its Queer Students of Color Resources and Retention Coordinator from a part time position to full time, expanding services, programming, and support. Our Queer Students of Color Coordinator hosted our first racial equity analysis and launched our first Queer Student of Color Programming Board.
- 2021-Present: The Queer Resource Center exists as the queer and trans student hub, and resource/referral center, and home of Portland State queer and trans event traditions with four full time professional staff members, four specialized student coordinators, two ELSA interns, and three skilled members of our desk team.