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ReadOUT festival of lesbian literature goes virtual

Gulfport’s annual lesbian literature festival hopes to go international with the help of Zoom.
 
ReadOUT, the popular Gulfport Library festival celebrating lesbian literature, moves into the virtual world for 2021.
ReadOUT, the popular Gulfport Library festival celebrating lesbian literature, moves into the virtual world for 2021. [ Times (2018) ]
Published Feb. 3, 2021

ReadOUT, the popular Gulfport library festival celebrating lesbian literature, moves into the virtual world for 2021. The LGBTQ Resource Center of the Gulfport Public Library says it will attempt to go international and be held on Zoom Feb. 26-28.

The 2021 festival “will demonstrate how lesbian voices persist and prevail in these transformative times,” the festival’s website states.

ReadOut 2021 will be a combination of live streamed interactive panels, pre-recorded readings, entertainment and chat periods between sessions.

Lesbian authors expected to participate include Sally Bellerose, Elana Dykewomon, Sheree Greer, Sue Katz, Rose Norman, Jean Redmann and Susan Stinson. Topics include elder lesbian writings, Black women writers, mystery, fiction, and the intersection of friendship and careers as lesbian authors.

The festival has also put out the call that authors interested in being included in the prerecorded readings should submit a five- to seven-minute edited recording of a reading of original work from a full-length published book. Submissions can be made at mygulfport.us/readout. Deadline for submission is Feb. 8.

For a Zoom address to attend the free virtual festival, register at readout2021.eventbrite.com.