Palouse Queer Studies Summit

2026 Theme: Methodologies for Survival

The Palouse Queer Studies Summit is an annual event featuring art exhibits, presentations, panel discussions, poetry readings, and interactive workshops led by students, faculty, staff, and community members. This event creates space for dialogue, learning, and creative expression across diverse perspectives.

The Summit is free and open to all.

Opening Reception:

Date: Friday,  April 3
TIme: 5-7 p.m.
Location: Terrell Library Atrium

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, April 4
TIme: 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center

Event Sponsors:

• Department of History
• Department of Art
• Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences
• Department of Sociology
• ASWSU Gender and Sexuality Alliance
• Office of Multicultural Student Services
• African American Student Center
• LGBTQ+ Center
• Women*s Center 

2026 Keynote

Palouse Queer Studies Summit 2026 Overview

Friday, April 3

5:00–7:00 p.m. Opening Reception
Featuring a screening of Happy Birthday, Marsha! and a Q&A with director and keynote speaker Tourmaline.
Discussion facilitated by Sister June T. Sanders & Josie Cohen-Rodríguez

Saturday, April 4

8:00–8:30 a.m. Coffee & Pastries
8:30–9:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks
9:00–10:15 a.m. Concurrent Sessions 1

Living Room
Workshop: “Whose Empathy? Cultural Pluralism and the Politics of Artificial Intelligence's Affective Simulations”
Shae Ortega, Washington State University

Knowledge Room A
Workshop: “Writing Queer Joy as Active Resistance: A Poetry Workshop"
D. Hopkins, Washington State University

10:15–10:30 a.m. Break
10:30–11:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions 2

Living Room
Workshop: “Other Spaces for Other People: Identifying and Developing Consistent and Inclusive Movements Across Social and Geographical Boundaries”
Brandon Haddock, Gonzaga University

Knowledge Room A
Queer Worldbuilding and Community Solidarity:
Chair: Josie Cohen-Rodríguez 

• “Ink, Paper, and Solidarity: How Die Freundin Built a Survival Network”
  Madison Tupper, Washington State University
• “Voices in the Silence of Care: Queer community support in the AIDS epidemic”
  Ryan Hollister, Washington State University
• “Dungeons & Dragons as Mutual Aid Formation & Resistance”
  Raymond Lindquist, Washington State University 

11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Catered Lunch

Remarks from Co-Chairs (12:30-12:45 p.m.) 
Josie Cohen-Rodríguez, Cecil Decker, Sienna Guadagnoli 

Poetry Readings (12:45-1:00 p.m.) 
River Adonis & Sienna Guadagnoli, Washington State University

1:00–2:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions 3

Living Room
"Mental Health Matters: Minority Stress, Resiliency, and WSU Counseling & Psychological Services"
Victoria Mackey, Kaitlyn Vanson, and Nicole Henry, Washington State University 

Knowledge Room A
Two Visions of Geospatial Queer Existence: Kinnar Voices & the Great Salt Lake:
Chair: Jaime Díaz 

• “Of Ghosts & Gods: A Multi-Modal Exploration of Kinnar Voices & Histories”
  Ishita Suri, University of Washington
• “Salty Survival: Disrupting Extractive Frameworks Through Environmental Ethics of Care at the Great Salt Lake”
  Shae Barber, University of Montana

Knowledge Room B
Queer Identity and Spaces in Art, Archive, and Manifesto:
Chair: Lotus Norton-Wisla 

• “Found and Formed: Queer Identity Seen Through the Practice of Collage”
  Loren Brown, Washington State University
• “MANIFEST M(W)E: The Manifesto as an Unabashed Declaration of Aliveness and Resistance”
  Arshia Batra, University of Washington
• “Guerrilla Archivism: The Queer Spaces of Donald R. Heil”
  Steinar Goheen, Washington State University 

2:15–2:30 p.m. Break
2:30–3:45 p.m. Concurrent Sessions 4

Living Room
Workshop: “Medical and Mental Health Gender Affirming Care on the Palouse”
Sunday Henry, Ashley Wilson, and Elizabeth Hobbs, Washington State University Cougar Health Services 

Knowledge Room A
Queering the Body: Social Sex, Liberating Labor, & Women’s Body Image Diversity:
Chair: Olivia Pavek 

• "A Conceptual Analysis of the Sex/Gender Distinction: Introduction of the Concept of Social Sex”
  Skyler Barzee, University of Idaho
• “Queering Labor: Queer Liberation of Socio-Sexual Labor Roles in Pregnancy”
  Eleanor Colgan, Washington State University
• “Testing Queer Theory: Body Image Diversity in Lesbian/Bisexual and Heterosexual Women's Social Media Content”
  Cara Brauen, University of Montana

4:00–5:00 p.m. Keynote Address
Poetry Reading: "There's No Excuse (Anymore)"
 Hope Dela Cruz, Washington State University Campus Civic Poet
Invited Keynote Speaker: Tourmaline 

5:00–5:30 p.m. Book Signing
Tourmaline will be available to sign copies of her new book, Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson (2025). The WSU Bookie will have a limited number of copies available for purchase following the keynote address.

Call for Proposals

Proposals are now being accepted for the Palouse Queer Studies Summit: Methodologies of Survival. Submissions are open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members. Presentations, workshops, panels, academic papers, visual art, and creative writing or poetry readings are welcome.

All proposals related to gender, sexuality, and queer experiences will be considered. Preference may be given to proposals that address themes such as local community issues, access to resources, current legislation, coalition building, global perspectives, historical analysis, or art connected to the summit’s themes.

Proposal Details:

Proposal Deadline: March 22
Full Submission Guidelines: Submit a proposal or learn more!
Questions? Email sa.lgbtq.center@wsu.edu