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National Park Service To Look At American History Of Lesbians, Gays, Transgenders, And Bi-Sexuals

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Published Date

June 9, 2014

The role that lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgender individuals played in the history of the United States is to be explored by the National Park Service, which will launch the effort Tuesday with a panel discussion involving Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and the U.S. ambassador to Australia along with LGBT scholars and historians.

The goal of the initiative is to identify places and events associated with the story of LGBT Americans for inclusion in the parks and programs of the National Park Service. 

The discussion Tuesday will explore ways to celebrate and interpret lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history in the context of broader American history, a release from the Interior Department said. Prior to the panel discussion, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Ambassador John Berry will deliver kick-off remarks.

The goals of the heritage initiative include: engaging scholars, preservationists and community members to identify, research, and tell the stories of LGBT associated properties; encouraging national parks, national heritage areas, and other affiliated areas to interpret LGBT stories associated with them; identifying, documenting, and nominating LGBT-associated sites as national historic landmarks; and increasing the number of listings of LGBT-associated properties in the National Register of Historic Places. 

The history of Civil Rights underscores a large part of American experience. The National Park Service is proud to be a part of this continuing legacy of freedom and justice. Directed by Americans to steward and teach the nation’s history, the National Park Service connects and amplifies important national stories in cooperation with partner communities across the United States.

You can add your comments to this discussion at this website.

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Comments

Submitted by justinh on June 9, 2014 - 6:24pm.

Interesting.  I wonder what sites are being considered.


Submitted by wild places on June 9, 2014 - 8:28pm.

At the risk of being called a biggot I find this a waste of resources given the parks current financial situation. It's also hard for me to see where this fits with the mission of the park service.


Submitted by justinh on June 9, 2014 - 10:20pm.

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

It would seem to fall within the scope of the bolded terms of the mission.


Submitted by trailadvocate on June 9, 2014 - 11:33pm.

Oh crap, the NPS routinely condemns cultural resources to museum pieces then reconstructs them situated in some interprative centers.  Is that what's intended here?  Few things surprise me in this climate.  Social engineering has nothing to do with what these natural wonders impart.  Let whatever persuasion find peace where it can be found in these humbling places.  PC really isn't the realm of NPS, I don't believe.  Stick to the basics where we can all live.

 


Submitted by Rick B. on June 9, 2014 - 11:50pm.

The history of Civil Rights underscores a large part of American experience. The National Park Service is proud to be a part of this continuing legacy of freedom and justice.

Sounds good to me, and a good use of my tax dollars.


Submitted by trailadvocate on June 10, 2014 - 12:02am.

We've had our issues, Rick B.  It's been your career to deal with personal issues being a Psych Tech.  I don't believe draging personal issues into the National Parks which are nearly a supreme environment for what's natural is appropriate.   Just blaze on into any number of environments represented by these parks and you are transformed.  Let's not make it the other way around.  Don't like segmented user groups when refering to the Parks or nature in general.  You want me to count the ways NPS has assaulted cultural history to accomodate the power structure of elitest grandiosity?  You really don't want me to go there (respectfully).


Submitted by Rick B. on June 10, 2014 - 2:34am.

Actually, as a psych nurse, not a tech, I helped patients who had psychiatric diagnoses. Personally, I don't think that one's orientation is an 'issue' and it is definitely not a diagnosis. People having their own pathological issues with sexual minorities is indeed a sad part of our nation's history, and that is worthy of documentation. If you don't want to be part of that conversation, I'm certain there are many other issues elsewhere you can spend your mental calories on.

 

And no, I don't particularly want you " to count the ways NPS has assaulted cultural history to accomodate the power structure of elitest grandiosity" but if you feel compelled, there is always the ignore button.


Submitted by beachdumb on June 10, 2014 - 5:44am.

Just more evidence the DOI and NPS are being severely mismanaged. This is the absolute last thing they need to worry about, just shameful they gave this subject a millisecond of their time.

 


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