In Queerd Science, LGBTQ STEM professionals were paired with a visual performance burlesque storytellers, who interpreted the field of study of each researcher in order to tell their LGBTQ STEM story through dance and music.

Ten LGBTQ STEM researchers spanning fields from environmental sciences, astronomy, microbiology, material science, math and ecology represented, along with sixteen artists.

Queerd Science began with the idea to highlight the contributions and roles of LGBTQ practitioners in STEM field. Science is full of abstract or complex ideas. However, with the help of visual or performance art like dance, scientific knowledge can be explained more easily and reach the intended audience more effectively. 

The show was held November 12, 2023 at the Hotel Congress in downtown Tucson. We couldn’t have done this event without our LGBTQIA+ STEM researchers:

Dr. Pamela Pelletier @deserthomespun | Dr. Alisa Husky @yeksuha | Ana Paula Andrade @dynamax_dayman | Cindy Norton @cingularities | Danielle Van Boxel @dvbuntu |E Tuschhoff @hyladae |  Mery Touceda-Suárez @okmersjeje | Nicole Bardabelias @bardi_booty | Nicole Kerrison @wentletrap.png | Victoria Luizzi 

The event was hosted by Ms. Lola Torch @mslolatorch & Posie D'Lish @posiedlish, and burlesque performers:

Matt Finish @xo.mattfinish Sonia Rita @soniarita.az Sasha Southend @sasha_southend Miss Doxy Divine @missdoxydivine Mistress Ceratops @mistress.ceratops Ms. Midnight @msmidnighttucson Itza Dryheat @itza_dryheat Irma Gherd @omgitsirmagherd Miss Ivy Green @missivygreen Posie D’Lish @posie_dlish

Our working stage crew Lady Tingles @ladytingles and Prince Albert @prince_albert_drag

Pictured here is Irma Gherd, who performed the research of E Tuschhoff in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program. E’s research focuses on the evolutionary patterns of sexually selected traits at broad scales. E’s current work aims to understand how visually sexually selected traits, like colors and funky dances, are distributed across animals and how the conspicuousness of these traits relates to their evolution.

Thanks to our partners the Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the Pima County Public Library PRIDE department