Ally week was founded in 2005 by members of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, (GLSEN) the leading group in ensuring the safety of all students while at school. Allies are an extremely beneficial aspect of the overall growth and development of the community. They are constantly spreading love and support. 

They also provide a safety net and space for members of the community who are being exposed to negativity from those that are anti-LGBTQ+. Ally week is a good way to spread awareness and shed light on the importance of being supportive to LGBTQ+ youths. If there is to be any type of change, those who are not informed on these issues must be educated. Fortunately, that is what Ally Week is all about. During Ally Week, individuals are presented with a multitude of ways of how to be an ally and how to get involved, starting with understanding the importance of pronouns and why individuals need to stop using negative remarks. Studies done by GSLEN show that discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth is extremely common in schools. GLSEN conducts climate surveys every year to inform everyone of the current schools levels of prejudice or biases against their LGBTQ+ youth. The climate survey over Indiana shows that there is a high percentage of negative remarks and slurs made against their gender expression and sexuality. It showed that nearly 73 percent of students experienced some type of LGBTQ+ discrimination in the past year, and that 71 percent of transgender students cannot use the restroom with their aligned gender.