Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Winter 2024
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Cultural and Environmental Resource Management
Committee Chair
Dr. Hope Amason
Second Committee Member
Dr. Michael Johnson
Third Committee Member
Dr. Pamela McMullin-Messier
Abstract
We know that LGBTQ+ people lived, loved, worked, and made history in Kittitas County—but you would never know that if you visited a local historical site or museum. LGBTQ+ histories exist, yet they are not always visible within the landscape, and this is particularly true for rural communities like Kittitas County. Meanwhile, representation of marginalized communities within local history can contribute to a sense of belonging, of knowing one’s place and the people who came before. This thesis addresses this gap in LGBTQ+ history by conducting archival and ethnohistorical research for the purposes of documenting LGBTQ+ history. Utilizing input from the LGBTQ+ community via interviews and focus groups, a museum exhibit which documents and explores the realities of LGBTQ+ existence in Kittitas County throughout history was created.
Recommended Citation
VanSuetendael, Tiernan, "LGBTQ+ Heritage in Kittitas County, Washington" (2024). All Master's Theses. 1922.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1922