Digital subscriptions provided by the City of Gulfport THE GABBER.COM No. 2800
February 16, 2023- February 22, 2023
Hyperlocal Worldwide As LGBTQ-oriented literature disappears from school bookshelves, the Gulfport Library’s LGBTQ Resource Center holds its sixth annual ReadOut: A Festival of LGBTQ Literature. From Feb.17-19, this free festival “showcases literature written by, for, and about LGBTQ community,” from 70 authors, according to the ReadOut website. Each day includes discussions, panels, workshops, and book signings. Start the weekend festival with five introduction events on Friday from 5-8 p.m. Board President of the LGBTQ Resource Center Susan Gore expressed excitement for the discussion of lesbian literary icons in the past, present, and future. Saturday’s events run from 9 a.m.7 p.m.; the day starts with a poetry panel featuring authors Gloria Muñoz, Rose Cervantes, Sheree L. Greer, Dustin Brookshire, and Sander Santiago. The day ends with a benefit performance of The Laramie Project at 7:30 p.m.. In past years, St. Pete’s first Latina Poet Laureate Gloria Muñoz attended the festival. This year, she’s a ReadOut presenter.
DINE-IN •
SHEREE L. GREER
By Cameron Healy
Sheree L. Greer discusses her work on a poetry panel and in a writers workshop at this year’s ReadOut Festival.
“I’m excited to talk about craft, poetry, and the making of a poem,” Muñoz said. “I think it’s really important because poetry is meaningful and it can change lives.” Muñoz said she met Gore at Tombolo Books; they talked about ReadOut, and that sparked the idea for
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her to join the festival. “With all the book bans, the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, and with curriculums changing to erase people’s history right now, I think festivals like this are incredibly important, and I’m proud to be part of a city and a place that supports that,” Muñoz said. ReadOut continued on page 16