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About Us

The LGBTQ Resource Center is committed to promoting awareness of the diversity of experiences, contributions and needs of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer. We began as the only center of its kind in a public library in Florida, growing from 250 books in 2015 to more than 10,000 books, CDs, DVDs and online materials that the Gulfport Library owns and provides today. Programming developed by volunteers from the LGBTQ Resource Center board grew alongside the collection, including:

ArtOut

ArtOUT

Seven years ago, ArtOut began as a small exhibit for local artists in June at the Gulfport Public Library. In 2022, it grew into an international juried exhibition, featuring 53 works by 35 artists from 8 countries in an on-site and virtual display. The five winners of the 2023 exhibit were displayed June 1 – 30 at the James Museum, as well as at the Gulfport Library and online LGBTQ Resource Center | Artout | Gulfport (artoutfestival.wixsite.com).
ReadOut A Festival of LGBTQ Literature

ReadOUT

Each February since 2018, ReadOut has showcased authors and publishers, as well as providing skill-building workshops and community events, for all lovers LGBTQ literature. In 2020, ReadOut was the last on-site event held at the Gulfport Library, with 23 authors and 145 attendees at a sold-out festival. COVID required creating a never-before-attempted virtual event for 2021. More than 950 registrants from 22 countries proved the need for community is not bound by geography. ReadOut became a hybrid event in 2023, combining community with accessibility. ReadOut Festival – ReadOut: A Festival of LGBTQ Literature (lgbtqgulfport.org)
BranchOut LGBTQ Scholarship Program

BranchOUT

In 2020, the Resource Center established an annual scholarship program to support the continuing education of an LGBTQ student who “lives, works or goes to school” in Pinellas County. In 2022, BranchOut was expanded to three scholarships of $2,000 each, recognizing the different needs of an Emerging Scholar, a Continuing Scholar and a Returning Scholar. The Raymond James Pride Inclusion Network sponsors these scholarships as part of its partnership with the Resource Center. They will be awarded for the first time during LGBTQ History Month (October) in 2023. (lgbtqbranchout.com).

SpeakOUT

SpeakOUT

In March 2022, Florida Humanities awarded a $10,000 grant to the Resource Center for a new series of hybrid dialogues on Intersections of LGBTQ Identity and Aging, Art, Law, Literature and Faith. The January 2023 Capstone session highlighted themes of growing inclusion as well as present-day challenges and the need for continuing dialogues.

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ShoutOUT

is the Resource Center’s quarterly newsletter, with updates about these and other events, plus interviews and highlights of new books acquired for the LGBTQ collection.

Subscribe today. 

About Us

Our work has been recognized by the American Library Association, Florida Humanities and the Institute for Museum and Library Service. Membership is open to all. You may learn more at: https://mygulfport.us/lgbtq-resources/

The LGBTQ Resource Center is a 501(c)3; our mailing address is 5501 28th Avenue S., Gulfport, FL 33707

To contact the LGBTQ Resource Center, please email us at lgbtqgulfport@gmail.com.

Library Hours

Mon.- Fri.: 10AM - 7PM
Saturday: 10AM - 4PM
Sunday: Closed

5501 28th Ave S,
Gulfport FL 33707
Phone: 727-893-1074
Email: libraryinfo@mygulfport.us

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