This event, which Fortner calls a “Fun-K,” is the first run the festival has ever hosted. Where: Starts at JD Hamel Park, Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue “And this can get people aware of what’s being written by queer authors.” RUN FOR LOVE “Our 10th year is all about informing our community,” Fortner says. These authors include Elizabeth Sims, Stefani Deoul, Rob Sanders, David Johnson, Amy Lauren and Richard Randall, many of whom will have work for sale that they can sign. This evening event at Bookstore1Sarasota will spotlight several LGBTQ authors from Sarasota and elsewhere in the Tampa Bay area as they share original works and participate in a Q&A session. Tiffany Razzano, founder of Tampa Bay literary arts organization Wordier Than Thou, teamed up with Fortner this year to create HMF’s first literary event. His legacy lives on in the festival’s participating artists - all of whom celebrate diversity and promote equality for LGBTQ individuals - and now that group of artists includes authors. HMF was created by Fortner (as an offshoot of her 2009 Equal Civil Rights Rally) to honor the late Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay Americans elected to public office. In 2009, Shannon Fortner organized The Equal Civil Rights Rally to fight for equality both on a state and federal level.
Tickets: Free, but registration suggested Here’s a guide to the festivities from its creator and head organizer. To celebrate a decade of advocacy through the arts, this year’s lineup features more events than ever. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Harvey Milk Festival, Fortner’s music, performing and visual arts festival that uses creativity to promote equality.
“I’m combining my music career and my activism, and it’s nice to come full circle.”
“This year’s festival is all about education,” Fortner says.
In fact, she created a whole festival to make a difference and support the movement she’s most passionate about: LGBTQ rights. Shannon Fortner does much more than click a button. Whether it’s a passionate speech by a prominent politician or a rally cry for a social justice-related cause, it’s easy to mindlessly share the video or click the like button to show your support. Every day on social media we see people sharing content with which they agree.