Abstract:
This essay focuses on the evolution of sexuality identity markers on the Southern Oregon
Lesbian Lands. Research derived from the University of Oregon Special Collections and
Archives serves to display the means by which different women understood and made sense of
sexuality and sexual orientation. I have found that the term ‘lesbian’ is better understood as a
catch-all word for all of women’s same-gender attraction; meaning that includes multi-gender
attracted women. This research will give better insight into how umbrella terms, like lesbian,
affect who is included (and excluded) throughout both the duration and existence of the lesbian
communes, and in current times.