 The Fabulous Arts Foundation in Sarasota, Florida is on a mission to establish a LGBTQ performing arts center in the community. This organization, which was founded in 2010, is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion through the arts, and has already made significant strides in achieving this goal. The Fabulous Arts Foundation has held numerous events and workshops in the Sarasota area, including dance classes, theater performances, and film screenings. These events have been well-received by the community, and have served as a way for LGBTQ individuals to express themselves and share their talents with others. Now, the Fabulous Arts Foundation is seeking a location to open a permanent performing arts center that will be dedicated to the LGBTQ community. This center will provide a safe and welcoming space for artists to create, perform, and connect with one another. It will also serve as a hub for the local LGBTQ community, offering a variety of events and programming that cater to the unique needs and interests of this population  The Fabulous Arts Foundation is currently working with local officials and real estate agents to find a suitable location for the center. They are seeking a space that is large enough to accommodate a variety of performances, and that is easily accessible to the community. The establishment of a LGBTQ performing arts center in Sarasota would be a significant milestone for the community, and would provide a much-needed resource for LGBTQ artists and audience members. The Fabulous Arts Foundation is committed to making this dream a reality, and is confident that with the support of the community, they will be able to open the doors to their new center in the near future. Non-Profit Organization: ALSO Youth
Favorite LGBT Group: Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota Annual Event: Sarasota Pride - Winter Wonderland! LGBT Activist: Shannon M Fortner LGBT Owned Business: Mellow Mushroom Sarasota Favorite Business: The Reserve SRQ Area Attraction: The Ringling Performing Arts Venue: Asolo Repertory Theatre Pet Lodging: SPOT srq Dog Grooming Realtor: Jim Jablonski Insurance Agency: Allstate Insurance Agent: Richard Dean Plummer II Hotel: Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection Travel Agency: myXOAdventures Apartment Community: ARCOS Apartments Church: MCC Church of the Trinity Salon: SALON FORTY ONE On Palm Avenue Fitness Center: Balance Health + Fitness Health Care Professional: Complete Care Group Community Bank: Sabal Palm Bank Beauty Spa: The Laser Lounge Spa of Sarasota Make-UP Artist: MOD Makeup on Demand Coffee Spot: The Reserve SRQ Restaurant: Sage SRQ Chef: Christopher Covelli Brunch: Station 400 Sarasota Happy Hour: G2H2 Sarasota - Gay Group Happy Hour Bar: Purple Rhino Lodge Bartender: Hunter Vance LGBT Bar Purple Rhino Lodge Drag Queen Bingo: Beneva Fruitville's Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza at McCurdys Boutique: Pixie Dust Metaphysical Boutique Wedding Venue: Selby Gardens - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Interior Designer: Interior Design Society of Sarasota Gallery: The Ringling Artist: Tom A. Ford Photographer: Samantha Ponzillo Media Musician: Jami Sophia Gee DJ: Lucy Blu Adult Novelty Store: Giggles Sarasota Drag Personality: Beneva Fruitville Social Media Personality: Joey Panek Youth: Tyler Lerch ICON AWARD: Margaret Good
SarasotaOUT.com presents our new show "WHO'S WHO" hosted by Joshua Beadle. A show dedicated to connections and helping you get to know the members of Sarasota's LGBT community!
In this episode, you will meet the SarasotaOUT.com ICON award winning Shannon Fortner and learn about how Harvey Milk Festival started plus the many things she has her hands in. ​
​By: Joshua Beadle
In this month's midterm elections, voters across the country sent a record number of LGBT candidates to Congress and Colorado elected the nation's first openly gay governor. These victories come 40 years after the assassination of the first openly gay elected official in California — Harvey Milk. Last night Shannon Fortner, ricipient of Sarasota's 2018 ICON award, hosted a demonstration at Five Points Park to remember the San Francisco Board of Supervisor who in 1978 coaxed the city council to pass a gay rights ordinance that protected gay people from being fired from their jobs. On Nov. 27, 1978, Supervisor Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White, a former police officer and former city supervisor who had clashed with Milk over LGBTQ issues. A hand-full of candle lit supporters, gathered on the rather chilly night in front of a rainbow lit sign of Harvey Milk. Shannon spoke with a megaphone, standing on a soap box and referenced the tragic Pulse Nightclub shooting from June 12, 2016, stating, "Our hearts beat on to honor the lives we've lost" and reminding us that the work we do each day keeps Harvey Milks' legacy alive. The success of LGBTQ candidates in the midterm elections would have been hard to imagine four decades ago when Milk first won office. In his life he was a political hero, in his death, a martyr. His existence though, led the way for future generations to fight for our LGBTQ rights. Harvey would be proud. Members of ALSO Youth, Divine AF, SarasotaOUT.com, Firefly SRQ and a handful of curious patrons were in attendance.
 and the winners are....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 The holidays are a time of reflection and to give thanks so we wanted to see what some of our community leaders had to say!
By: Joshua Beadle, Editor and Chief of SarasotaOUT.com |
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