News & Blogs for Sarasota's LGBT community.

Harvest Sarasota comes OUT.

10/22/2019

Erin Minor

On Sunday, October 22nd, Harvest Sarasota came OUT with their hearts for the LGBTQ+ community. Pastor Dan Minor’s message was real, raw and practical. Many Churches and their members struggle with how to Love and align with scripture regarding sexuality, and here’s a great example.

Pastor Minor has 2 siblings who are gay including his sister Erin Minor, the Executive Director of Harvest House Transitional Centers. Below is a clip from Sunday's sermon where you will see one Pastor leap with blind faith and we’re hoping he lands on solid ground with support from the community.

Later in the pastors sermon he stated: "I don't care where you are, who you're with, what you do, what it looks like... you are not only welcome here, you're celebrated here and we want you to have an opportunity to pursue and receive and experience the grace of God." To watch the full video CLICK HERE.

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Planned Parenthood Elect Gay Board Member and Experiences Growth of Transgender Services.

10/21/2019

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Dr. Boyd Lindsley has been elected chair of the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. The 23-member board is from a 22-county region of Florida, which includes Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples.

Lindsley began volunteering for Planned Parenthood in 2011 and joined the board in 2013. He and his husband, Michael Farmer, live near Orlando, where he is the senior associate director for the University of Central Florida’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media. Lindsley is a recognized leader in the LGBTQ community and serves on committees for Equality Florida and the Zebra Coalition.

Three years after launching services for transgender patients, the program at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida continues to grow rapidly. The number of transgender patients receiving services has increased from 180 during the 2016 – 2017 fiscal year to 1,152 during 2018 – 2019.

“As a member of the LGBTQ community, I know how important these services are,” said Dr. Boyd Lindsley, chair of the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. “We are proud to provide sexual and reproductive health care that is inclusive, compassionate and non-judgmental.”

Transgender services are offered at ten health centers in the 22-county region that includes Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples. Patients can receive hormone replacement therapy, cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, and sex education that includes transgender people’s identities and experiences. While most patients live locally, some travel from other states, including Georgia and Virginia.

“The most rewarding part of working with this program is seeing the dramatic change in patients,” said Michelle Tarte, a physician’s assistant at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. “Patients often struggle with depression when they arrive and are extremely happy by the time they complete the program. It is life-saving.”

The mission of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida is to provide affordable access to comprehensive reproductive health care and accurate health information through patient care, education and advocacy.

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OUT Awards 2019

10/17/2019

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Diversity celebrates the Holidays!

10/9/2019

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The Voices of Sarasota Holiday Concert, December 8, 2019 “Tis The Season…” In celebration of its 22nd anniversary, Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota is proud to present a holiday concert featuring the universal theme of celebration! The musical event will be held at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center (Holley Hall), 709 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236 on Sunday, December 8 at 3 p.m. Diversity’s singers will enchant audiences with songs of celebration. The concert program will include “Everywhere Christmas Tonight” and beautifully arranged classics like “Once in Royal David’s City“ and “Away in a Manger”. Diversity will also perform songs of celebrating who we are including “True Colors”, “This is Me” and others.

Tickets to “Tis The Season…” are $20 in advance, available from Diversity’s singers or online at www.DiversitySarasota.org. If not sold out, tickets may also be available at the door at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center prior to the concert.

For more information, please call 888-550-6279.

DIVERSITY: THE VOICES OF SARASOTA’S MISSION: Through songs of hope and inclusion, our LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly chorus celebrates all of humanity and inspires our community to embrace equality.

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