Pride Storytelling Project

2024-26 Community Roots Initiative to document local LGBTQIA2S+ History in partnership with Capital City Pride!

The Pride Storytelling Project grew from Capital City Pride's interest in documenting LGBTQIA2S+ experience and history in Thurston County and supporting queer storytellers in our community. Window Seat is collaborating with Capital City Pride to provides training, tools, and support to build an ongoing community documentation and storytelling project. Window Seat will steward the first two years of the project and Capital City Pride with grow it into the future! 

Year 1: Documentation (Oct 2024-June 2025)

Year 1 focused on training on the ethics and practice of oral history documentation, primary research, learning audio recording equipment, and conducting and transcribing interviews with 20 community narrators. Together, the cohort set three primary goals for year 1:

• To conduct interviews that elevate historical silences and queer experience across generations in Thurston County
• To document spaces, organizing efforts, and/or creative projects that are underrepresented in local history and that have created stability and belonging for Queer people in Thurston County.
• To develop and deepen relationships across generations and communities.

A group of six cohort members conducted and transcribed 20 interviews with community members.

Year 2: Creative Projects (Oct 2025-June 2025)

Cohort members are invited to propose a project that activates or amplifies the oral history collection generated in year 1 in creative and engaging ways. Participants have artistic and creative freedom on project specifics and will share their projects in June 2025. Window Seat supports provides professional development and project support through monthly workshops and provides each cohort member with a stipend and project budget.

Read more about this year's cohort projects! 

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Statement of Non-Discrimination

The Olympia City Council has made compliance with the City’s Nondiscrimination in Delivery of City Services or Resources ordinance (OMC 1.24) a high priority. As an InspireOlympia grantee, we agree not to unlawfully discriminate against an employee or client based on any legally protected status, which includes but is not limited to: race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital, status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or the presence of any disability