Date:         Thu, 22 Sep 1994 18:03:06 -0400

[ Send all responses to glbt@maroon.tc.umn.edu only. All responses to the
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact:
Beth Zemsky, Coordinator
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Programs Office
University of Minnesota
(612) 626-9765

September 22, 1994

New on-line IRD puts technology to work for gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender communities

        A new on-line service is now available to provide easy access via
the Internet to information of interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender communities. The information and referral database (IRD) has
been developed and will be maintained by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender (GLBT) Programs Office of the University of Minnesota.
         The database is accessible through "information superhighway"
connections that are widely used at home or in the office, and through
public access terminals at University of Minnesota libraries. The IRD
allows users to easily browse through or search for information on campus,
local and national resources and regularly updated events and action
alerts.
       A few of the many topics covered by the IRD include information on
University of Minnesota policies, such as how to register for domestic
partner benefits, and descriptions of community resources for counseling,
health, education, employment, housing, legal services, family and
relationship issues, nightlife, organizations, and violence and safety
issues.
        Of special interest to University students and others doing
scholarly research on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender topics is a
series of "Research Guides" that will help users locate information
sources on the history of the GLBT movement, parenting issues, marriage
and domestic partnership, the military, psychological and mental health
issues, queer theory and other topics.
        The GLBT Programs Office IRD uses Gopher software, a text-search
program developed at the University of Minnesota. Users can access the IRD
by following this path on Gopher: University of Minnesota Home Gopher
Server/ University of Minnesota Campus Information/ All the University of
Minnesota Gopher Servers/ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Information
And Referral. More detailed instructions for access to the database, which
can vary by terminal type and means of connection, are available from the
GLBT Programs Office.
        Organizations and individuals will be able to reach a broad
audience by listing their resource and event information on the database.
For information on submitting items for the database, contact the GLBT
Programs Office by calling (612) 625-6042 (Voice/TT) or e-mailing to
"glbt@maroon.tc.umn.edu" and ask for either the "resource" or "event"
form.
###

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Programs Office
University of Minnesota
425 Walter Library
117 Pleasant St. SE
Minneapolis, MN  55455
612-624-3325
glbt@maroon.tc.umn.edu