Favorite Non-profit Organization: ALSO Youth
Favorite LGBT Annual Event: Sarasota Pride, Inc
Favorite LGBT Community Leader/Activist: Shannon M Fortner
Favorite LGBT Owned Businesses: Purple Rhino Lodge
Favorite Area Attraction: The Ringling
Favorite Performing Arts Venue: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Favorite Local Actor/ Actress: Brian Craft
Favorite Realtor: Nate Brooks
Favorite Hotel: The Westin Sarasota
Favorite Apartment Community: ARCOS Apartments
Favorite Church: MCC Church of the Trinity
Favorite Salon: SALON FORTY ONE On Palm Avenue
Favorite Beauty Spa: The Laser Lounge Spa of Sarasota
Favorite Restaurant: Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi
Favorite Bartender: Hunter Vance
Favorite Bar: Oasis - Sarasota's Premier LGBT + Venue
Favorite LGBT Club: Oasis - Sarasota's Premier LGBT + Venue
Favorite Drag Queen Bingo: Beneva Fruitville's Bingo Bonanza
Favorite Interior Designer/ Company: Beginning to End Interiors
Favorite Musician/ Band: Divine AF
Favorite Drag Personality: Beneva Fruitville
Favorite DJ: D.j. Brianna Lee
Favorite Adult Novelty Store: Giggles Sarasota
Favorite Social Media Personality: Joey Panek
2018 SarasotaOUT.com's OUT ICON AWARD: Shannon M Fortner

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Sarasota's OUT Award winners:
FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ ANNUAL EVENT:  Harvey Milk Festival
FAVORITE LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION: ALSO Youth
FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ ACTIVIST: Nate Quinn
FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON: d. cole hair design
FAVORITE LOCAL FITNESS CENTER: CRUNCH
FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR: Robert Krasow Realtor with Michael Saunders & Company
FAVORITE AREA MUSEUM OR GALLERY: The Ringling
FAVORITE AREA ATTRACTION: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT: Clasico Sarasota
FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER: Hunter Vance
FAVORITE LOCAL BAR: Barrel 87
FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ NIGHTCLUB/BAR: Elevate - Level 2 at Starlite
FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL: Aloft Sarasota
FAVORITE LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY or AGENT: ALandCHUCK.travel
FAVORITE LOCAL COFFEE SHOP: Pastry Art
FAVORITE LOCAL HAPPY HOUR: Barrel 87
FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS VENUE: Manatee Performing Arts Center
FAVORITE LOCAL ACTOR: Brian Craft
FAVORITE LOCAL ACTRESS: Corinne Woodland
FAVORITE LOCAL MUSICIAN/BAND: Eduardo Correa
FAVORITE LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY: Mattyson Barksdale
FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Barbara Banks
FAVORITE LOCAL DRAG PERSONALITY: Brianna Summers
FAVORITE LOCAL ADULT NOVELTY STORE: Giggles Sarasota
2017 OUT ICON AWARD: Beneva Fruitville

Rockell Blu is a relatively new queen thats ambushing the Sarasota scene. She currently hosts Elevate - Friday Nights at Starlite, has hosted her own charity event at Flamingo, was a former Vegas girl and was featured world wide on Willams Beat Down.

Lindsay is known as the First Lady of Sarasota. She has her own music video on youtube, hosts her own showcase at the Purple Rhino and has co-stared in Sarasota's famous Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza!

Spikey is Sarasota and beyonds most iconic drag king. Known for her recognizable binding techniques and has been seen on stages across the nation. She's been featured on Buzzfeed and The Huffington Post plus sells her own line of custom airbrushed costumes! Spikey works hard and has earned the #2 spot on our list!

Beneva is Sarasota's most iconic drag performer with regular appearances on daytime television's Suncoast View. She has her own feature length Christmas special (Beneva’s Christmas Special), is the host of her repetitively SOLD OUT Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza and is a passionate LGBT philanthropist which makes Beneva #1 on our list of Top 5 Sarasota Drag performers!

Well there's our list! We know there are a lot of honorable mentions we didn't get to mention, like Kiki Butter Mischief, Lady Liemont - plus a slew of up-and-coming girls! We at SarasotaOUT can't wait to see what they will serve us in the years to come and we will be there to shine the spotlight on them!

By: Joel Pozo & Joshua Beadle