Students at WSU engaged in a free workshop yesterday that explored gender and sexual identity, art and activism.

San Francisco photographer Sarah Deragon presented and discussed her ongoing “Identity Project,” which explores the various identities in the LGBTQ community.

Deragon recalled having a conversation with Leticia Malavasi, a sports management masters student at WSU, about the various LGBTQ identities, which inspired the project.

“I thought it would be cool to take photos where people could take the photos, and choose their gender and sexual identity,” she said. “It’s the power of pairing photos with words.”

Deragon started the art project in January 2014 and it has since gained attention nationally and internationally. In September Deragon and her partner traveled to St. Petersburg, where she exhibited her work.

Natalie Josef, Deragon’s wife and business partner, said the community in Russia was much like what one could see stateside.

“It just looked like a cross section of queer people you’d see anywhere else,” she said.

Josef said her wife’s project quickly picked up steam shortly after it started and the San Francisco LGBTQ community began requesting a book compilation.

Instead, they opted to start a fundraiser to travel the country and expand the project and complete a book later.

After the presentation, the audience separated into two groups for a workshop about pairing art with activism.

One group came up with an idea similar to the Clothesline Project that occurs on Glenn Terrell Mall during Week of Awareness. Rather than hanging up various shirts which address specifically sexual assault, the shirt or items hanged would explore the various gender and sexual identities in the LGBTQ community.

“We feel like this would be a good would way to educate the general public on the various identities that exist,” said Drew Roberts, an English master’s student.

Malavasi, president of the Graduate Pride Alliance, helped organize the event and said while the state itself is very liberal, it is important to continue fostering conversation and educating about the LGBTQ community.

“East (Washington) is still conservative,” she said. “Unless people are from big areas like San Francisco, they don’t know too much about the culture.”

Deragon said she wants to visit more towns to continue her Identity Project.

“Pullman is a catalyst to explore small town queerness,” she said.