Bodies of queer people (including diverse gender-sexuality identities/expression) in this gender binary and heteronormative world can be sites of oppression, experiencing the paradox of discriminatory visibility, and invisibility from equity. Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) although inherently celebrates varied bodily and movement experiences, it rarely highlights the validity and visibility of queer people’s bodies, lives, and mental health. This could make one’s practice neutral and ineffective, or even oppressive. Therefore, a Queer Affirmative lens to DMT is imperative, replacing clinical oppression/neutrality with an end-to-end affirmative practice towards gender and sexuality equity in the present so as to foster a queer-normative future.

Deepa Sai Avula, MA, BC-DMT