LGBTQ+ Dancing in San Diego

Michelle Fernandez

Founder, Queer Latin Dance SD

Michelle Fernandez (she/they) is the founder of Queer Latin Dance SD and the organizer of its Queer Salsa Social events. A lifelong performer with a background in competitive gymnastics and singing, she fell in love with salsa in college as a creative escape from her engineering studies. After coming out, she wanted to learn to lead and met pushback, which showed her how few inclusive dance spaces there were. She set out to build an affirming Latin dance space for San Diego’s queer community, which she runs with her partner and co-organizer, Pat Petel.