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ReadOut’s Virtual Festival of Lesbian Literature

The fifth annual ReadOut Festival of Lesbian Literature will be held virtually from Febuary 18 until Febuary 20 in 2022. The free event, held by Gulfport Public Library’s LGBTQ Resource Center, includes live-streamed interactive panels, presentations, workshops and question & answer opportunities with authors, scholars, book reviewers and editors. There will be writerly advice on genres, technique, editing, characterization, writing intersectionality without being performative or stereotypical, and much more. 

LGBTQ Resource Center

I spoke to Susan Gore, Board President of the LGBTQ Resource Center, who said, “[the Center is] the only center of its kind in a public library in Florida, growing from 250 books in 2014 to more than 10,000 books, CDs, DVD and online materials today. 

“We differ from most “LGBTQ Resource Centers” in that we are a knowledge hub, grounded by our collection of books and other media, rather than a physical space per se. We enjoy a unique symbiotic relationship with the Gulfport Library, using that space for events as well as other venues in Gulfport, a beach town of 11,000.”

The LGBTQ Resource Center holds multiple events that showcase and connect the community. “Programming includes: ArtOut, a month-long exhibit (June), the ReadOut Festival of Lesbian Literature each February, a quarterly newsletter (ShoutOut), an annual scholarship (BranchOut), plus other activities, speakers and events. Our work has been recognized by the American Library Association and the Institute for Museum and Library Service. Membership is open to all.”

ReadOut Festival

The ReadOut Festival has been, and continues to be, impacted by the pandemic. “In February 2020, our free ReadOut Festival of Lesbian Literature was the last live event at the library before COVID restrictions were implemented. We were elated to host 145 participants who came to Gulfport to hear 23 authors.” 

However, going virtual means lesbians from around the globe can attend. “Last February, a group of 7 volunteers (plus library technical staff) put together a virtual version of ReadOut – which drew almost 1,000 participants from 22 countries to hear 101 authors.”

There are more than 50 authors and presenters involved in the 2022 ReadOut festival. ReadOut Pods, described on the website as “interactive panels, presentations, and workshops by authors, scholars, book reviewers and editors,” will be live-streamed over zoom. 

Among the pods is “Just One More Page…,” a discussion between Elle E. Ire, Riley Scott, Meredith Doench, and M.B. Austin, on writing suspenseful fiction. “Suspense isn’t just for thrillers and mysteries,” the pod’s description reads. “It’s the element that keeps readers of all genres on the edge of their seats and makes them say, “Just one more page.” 

“Join the Feisty FOES—a group of multi-genre WLW authors (Elle E. Ire, Riley Scott, Meredith Doench, and MB Austin)—to discuss the art of building suspense in every genre from mystery to romance, thriller to sci-fi, and everything in between. While their works may differ in content and style, these four authors share more commonalities than differences when it comes to writing intriguing fiction, and they know the secrets to engaging readers require antici……pation.”

Susan Gore mentions the 5th annual ArtOut exhibition, which is slated for June, for anybody interested. “Like ReadOut, [it] is free for submitters and attendees. We hope to be able to hold a month-long exhibit in the library, as in past years. There will be a virtual element this year, too, and we expect participation in ArtOut to explode in the same way ReadOut has.”

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