SARASOTA – It’s been called the Academy Awards for Sarasota’s LGBTQ + community, and this year promises to be biggest award show since its inception.
“It’s something that you get to celebrate one another, it really is a feel-good event,” said Joshua Beadle. “You will leave smiling.”
They’re back, and for the past five years the Suncoast’s LGBTQ + community has celebrated the people and businesses that show their support. Helping pave the way in making spread inclusivity through the SarasotaOUT Awards.
“We needed a way to shine a spotlight on the people and the places that are doing really good work in Sarasota,” said Beadle.
Beadle, founder of the annual award show says, the event has grown in size throughout the years. From the number of people that attend, to the array of categories you vote for, and to the list of nominees hoping to take home an OUT Award.
“I want it to be open for the community to feel special, and so I try to cover all of our bases and I think this year it’s pretty good,” he said.
With more than 50 categories to vote for Beadle says, seeing the many businesses proudly display their OUT Awards demonstrate the progress made. And has paved the way to label the City of Sarasota as a Gay friendly community.
“It wasn’t a really a big deal until the second year then people were more aware of it,” said Beadle. “Now this year it became something that people actually called the Academy Awards of Gay Sarasota, and I really held onto that.”
And of course, the OUT Awards wouldn’t be the same without its legendary host and two-time Icon Award winner Beneva Fruitville.
The award show is open to the public and will be held at the Sage restaurant Sunday October 10th. If you haven’t done so yet visit SarasotaOUT.com to cast your vote.
The deadline to vote is this Thursday September 30th and while you’re there be sure to also vote in the category for favorite news source.
