The LGBTQ Resource Center of the Gulfport Library in Gulfport, Florida presents ReadOut 2021: A Festival of Lesbian Literature, held virtually through Zoom on February 26-28, 2021. This free festival will feature leading lesbian authors and is open to an international audience.

The LGBTQ Resource Center is proud to once again bring back this annual festival for its fourth year! The theme for this year’s event is Lesbian Voices Persist and Prevail.

ReadOut 2021 will be a unique hybrid of live-streamed interactive PODS, prerecorded readings in strings of PEARLS, and PLAYTIME entertainment and chat opportunities between sessions. Entertainment will be provided by lesbian musicians, spoken word artists, comics. The festival will demonstrate how Lesbian Voices Persist and Prevail in these transformative times.

Well-known lesbian authors including Sally Bellerose, Elana Dykewomon, Sheree Greer, Sue Katz, Rose Norman, Jean Redmann and Susan Stinson are slated to present 90-minute live-streamed PODS (aka panels) on themes such as elder lesbian writings, Black women writers, mystery, fiction, and the intersection of friendship and careers as lesbian authors.

Call for submissions: 60-minute prerecorded themed sessions of multiple authors reading their work will comprise the PEARLS and ReadOut 2021 welcomes all LGBTQA+ authors who write by, for and/or about lesbians. More information can be found at: https://readoutfestival.wixsite.com/home/call-for-submissions. The deadline for submissions is February 8, 2021. We are committed to involving an inclusive and wide array of voices, including those belonging to lesbians of color and varied ethnic groups and religious/spiritual backgrounds.

To register for this free festival, visit: https://readout2021.eventbrite.com.