The idea blossomed in 2018 when Desiree Cuizon took to the stage as the only queer dance artist at a small pride event that called for LGBTQ+ BIPOC artists. Spurred by the noticeable lack of dancer representation, she went to her organization, Disco Riot, with the proposal of creating a movement-arts festival that highlights queer artists, specifically within the BIPOC community. Disco Riot colleague Trystan Merrick was quickly on board.

Both grew up within the dance community and their mission for the festival was to create a platform for free expression – one that strays from the predominant conforming narratives they experienced as rising queer artists.

“As a queer person who danced classical ballet basically my whole career, I danced as a leading male [for] almost all of the classical ballets,” said Merrick. “I’m nonbinary and yet most of my career I was asked to play a prince or Romeo or some leading man that was in love with a leading woman because I am a tall, white ‘male.’”

Cuizon, who grew in her identity as a queer artist over the years, experienced similar restricting roles within the dance community.

“For most of my career, I’ve been told what to do and who to be on stage. I really dove into the roles that I played, and it’s been fun but you also kind of lose yourself in it,” Cuizon said. 

So, in 2022 the pair set out to host their first LGBTQ+ movement-arts festival entitled Queer Mvmnt Fest. Made up of performances, workshops, discussions and classes, Queer Mvmnt Fest launched with the intention of highlighting the works of queer artists, especially those within the BIPOC community, to address inequity through an intersectional lens. 

With 20 featured artists in its first year, Cuizon and Merrick emphasized to each performer their freedom to showcase their art without creative restriction.

“I think it’s really important for everyone to show up as their authentic self, while acknowledging all of the intersections and marginalizations of who they are and what they bring,” said Cuizon. “It’s really interesting because some artists are so ready to just be who they are and some artists come in like ‘am I allowed to do this,’ ‘am I allowed to do that,’ and I have to remind them that we aren’t there to micromanage their art.”

Since its 2022 debut, the fest has grown into an annual event. In 2023, Queer Mvmnt Fest was held on June 12-18 with 30 participating artists.

“It’s been incredible. To create a space to foster growth in that area and to give young or established artists an opportunity to get paid to show their art in these environments we have created for them is so fulfilling,” Merrick said. “Each year after the festival I feel overwhelmed with joy. I’m just so proud of everyone and there is no way I couldn’t keep doing this.”