The annual celebration features a variety
of attractions, including live music, film,
performance art, speakers and vendors. New
in 2019 was the inaugural “Fun-K” Run4Love
at JD Hamel Park, where participants crossed
the Ringling Bridge to illuminate it in
rainbow colors.
The run honored Stonewall’s 50th
anniversary, a focus of Harvey Milk’s 10th
celebration. “We wanted to be able to light up
the bridge in honor of our LGBTQ pioneers,
getting the community to come and celebrate
diversity,” Fortner said.
The festival also fosters emerging talent
in artists who reject discrimination while
promoting equality for the LGBTQ community
by supporting equal rights legislation.
It’s a perfect fit for Sarasota, one that’s
naturally progressed into the organization’s
#WeSupport campaign.
“We are implementing more educational and
outreach initiatives,” Fortner explains. “The
campaign aims to educate local businesses about the
unique diversity issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community
and their families in our community.” To accomplish
this, HMF received a Community Foundation of Sarasota
County grant to provide businesses with educational
materials and supplemental training.
“The Harvey Milk Festival is working to bring
the community together year-round,” Fortner says.
Learn more about the Harvey Milk Festival’s
next decade by visiting WatermarkOnline.com and
HarveyMilkFestival.org.
» MANATEE PRIDE
Manatee Pride is a program of Prism Youth
Initiative, Inc., a non-profit dedicated
to empowering LGBTQ youth. The
all-volunteer effort aims to uplift and empower
members of the LGBTQ community who live, love
and visit Bradenton and its nearby communities.
The event celebrated its sixth year at the Bradenton
Riverwalk Pavilion in March 2019. “The Manatee Pride
Festival has grown through the years,” the organization
shared. “This year, the event will have the largest
number of live entertainers, and more vendors than
ever, providing fun for the whole family.”
It did, something Prism Youth Initiative board
president and Manatee Pride committee chair Valerie
Fisher proudly shared with Watermark. “We’re so
happy that we’re apparently well-received by not
only the LGBTQ community,” she explained, “but our
straight allies and just the community in general.”
The six consecutive family-friendly events have
also been embraced by the city. “We have been
warmly welcomed by the community,” Fisher says.
“It’s grown every year and we’re so thrilled. We very
much appreciate the city’s approval of and support for
this event.”
The gatherings tout a growing number of sponsors
and vendors each year, like recurring sponsor CAN
Community Health which offers onsite health
ABOVE TOP LEFT
FABULOUS
EVENING:
Keo Sarang (R)
and Karen Atwood
enjoy the ninth
annual Fabulous
Independent Film
Festival at Burns
Court Cinema.
PHOTO BY RUSS
MARTIN
ABOVE RIGHT
FAMILY
FRIENDLY:
Beneva Fruitville
performs for
the children at
Manatee Pride
2019.
PHOTO BY RUSS
MARTIN
2 5
CONTINUED ON PG. 26 | |
/WatermarkOnline.com
/HarveyMilkFestival.org