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2019 OUT Award Winners

10/7/2019

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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
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WHO'S WHO: Shannon Fortner of Harvey Milk Festival

4/18/2019

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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.

​

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Remembering Harvey Milk 40 Years Later

11/28/2018

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​By: Joshua Beadle
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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.

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2018 Sarasota OUT Award Winners

10/8/2018

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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

​
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We asked... "What are you thankful for?"

12/9/2016

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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!
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MIKE CHERRY
Strategic Marketer of atLarge downtown
"I'm thankful presidential terms are only four years and not longer... LOL. During this divided time in our country it's hard to recognize what you're thankful for. I'd say it's our duty today to focus on the good we are doing or could be doing within our community to better ourselves holistically. And I'm thankful to be a part of that growth in Sarasota. I'm thankful for having a voice and using it to better this community."
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MICHAEL LAMB
​
Community AIDS Network
Prevention Specialist
"I am thankful for progress. Progress shows growth & with growth comes wisdom."
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SHANNON FORTNER
Founder & Executive Director of 
Harvey Milk Festival
"During a time like now we have to think about the things we are grateful for. I am grateful for the love I share with my beautiful bride-to-be and her very wonderful 6 year old son. Being surrounded by a community like ours has given us hope. Joining arms when we need one and other, working together to build bridges and support. This is why we should always remember this, "Our Hearts Beat On. We Promise To Stay Strong"
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JOHN SECOR
Festival Producer of Sarasota Film Festival

​"I'm thankful this holiday season to live in a community that embraces my differences, supports my needs and values the performing arts and independent filmmaking!"
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JOEY PANEK
Senior Producer at Suncoast View



"I'm thankful to live in a city that values the arts. I'm grateful for the friendships I've made because of that. And I'm thankful for my dog Lulu. I'm always thankful for her."
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BRADEN CHAPMAN/
MIMI IMFURST

Cheif Innovation Officer at ALandCHUCK.travel
"2016 has proven to be full of extreme rewards and extreme challenges. I can speak for myself and everyone at ALandCHUCK.travel that we are EXTREMELY thankful for the friends and family we can hold close, our extended family around the world; but mostly for the lessons and blessings we carry into 2017. We hope everyone can reflect and find the joy in their lives this holiday season. "
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BRIAN CRAFT
Director of Marketing at
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Manatee Performing Arts Center
"This Holiday Season, I am thankful to be a part of a community that not only embraces and supports the arts, but stimulates it’s artists, encouraging and pushing us to think outside the box and grow, embracing and celebrating our authenticity. I’m also thankful that we are able to engage in countless collaborations providing platforms to connect and come together as a community."

​By: Joshua Beadle, Editor and Chief of SarasotaOUT.com
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