Organized by Calla Chancellor (Women Studies)

Seeing What Queer Youth Know: A Seattle Photovoice Project is simultaneously a community education project, and a research study and public humanities project.  

Using photovoice, a participatory action research method, we will explore visual practices, including a politics of visibility in Seattle’s local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBT/Q) communities.

This study will engage teens and young adults (ages 14-22) who identify as GLBTQ (or similar terms with which they are comfortable) from Seattle’s American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) GLBTQ Youth Program.

A small group of twelve participants will meet twice monthly, for approximately two hours each meeting, to discuss how they imagine and define community and their relationship to different communities and/or public spaces in Seattle. Participants will be taught basic photography techniques and how to use photography as a tool for critical reflection – both personal and social – and promoting community dialogue.

From January to May of 2009, discussions will form the basis for photography assignments (decided by the participants) that will, in turn, feed and direct subsequent discussions. The process will culminate in a collaboratively produced community photography exhibit in June 2009. This exhibit will be designed to promote public dialogue about a range of themes regarding visuality and GLBTQ politics and culture. We also will create a website of the photographs with a space for moderated public comment.

Download Call for Project Participants (612k PDF)