Brianna Romanos

ENGL 1302

Mr. Powers

5 March 2023

The Overall Effectiveness of Performance Activism in the Queer Community

Performance activism has recently been characterized by analysts as being both

ineffective and highly detrimental. This paper will discuss the effectiveness of performance

activism based on research that defines and highlights examples in the queer community. Due to

the recent politics circling the queer community it is important to understand and acknowledge

effective forms of protest that continue to keep the LGBTQ+ community afloat. It is important to

understand that there are many forms of performative activism that continue to contribute

information and awareness about issues pertaining to the queer community. This essay utilizes

Singhal's definition of performative activism which states “any form of performance that

requires an audience and/or allows them to interact with the components of the performance in

any way they see fit.”(44) Shepard al et further defines play as “freedom–of the mind and

body–from any number of repressive forces, from the state to the super-ego, the cop in the

head.”(2) In the LGBTQ+ community performance activism is an effective tool that has been

utilized since stonewall, so research that includes different examples of performative activism

has been gathered to support this idea. Shepard et al highlights the idea that play in terms of

political performance “serves as a vehicle for community building, effectively supports a

coordinated organizing effort, and invites individuals to join.”(3) Performance activism creates

safe spaces for audience members to be able to interact with said performance, which ultimately

leaves an audience to resonate with a cause. Some examples of performance that will be used in
this paper include–festivals/parades, theater/dance, and political organizations such as ACT UP.

There isn’t much discourse over the effectiveness of performative activism; however, some

researchers such as Weissberg have noted they find performance activism to be a waste of

coordinated efforts.

Playful Activism in Festivals

Activism in Theater and Dance

Performance in Political Activism

 Works Cited

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