ABSTRACT
The populations that music therapists serve are quite heterogeneous. In their survey of music therapists in the United States, Whitehead-Pleaux et al discovered interesting trends within the music therapy community. This chapter explores working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, asexual and ally, and intersex (LGBTQAI+) clients as well as the unique experiences of LGBTQAI+ music therapists/students. It focuses on the pedagogic framework of queer theory, describing sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity. The chapter examines music therapy practices with LGBTQAI+ clients. It discusses the impact of minority stress on the wellbeing of LGBTQAI+ individuals. The chapter explores will follow of the music therapy clinical practice literature, which includes best practices and ways to integrate queer theory into music therapy practice. As a profession, music therapy has lagged behind other professions in addressing the needs of LGBTQAI+ individuals, as clients, coworkers, students, and research subjects.
