Selfless. Focused. Resilient. Remarkable. These are the words that describe Shannon Fortner.
Shannon is the founder and president of the Harvey Milk Festival (HMF), a Sarasota nonprofit dedicated to sharing the power of the arts as a catalyst for social and political change. It celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, consisting of a history and art component, performance art and dance, and culminating with its annual music festival.
The gathering drew a crowd of more than 5,000 people. The festival also screens the Fabulous Independent Film Festival, which celebrates its 10th year in 2020.
The HMF has grown to include community engagement and education initiatives to leave a more sustainable impact on local communities. Our #WeSupport campaign was launched this year in response to an emerging need in Sarasota, aiming to educate local businesses about unique diversity issues faced by the LGBTQ+ population and its allies.
In exchange for making a commitment to preserving an inclusive workplace, HMF will provide local businesses with education and supplemental training to better cater to its LGBTQ+ patrons. Shannon’s vision for this organization directly honors Harvey Milk’s legacy by educating, empowering and creating opportunities for others.
In addition to her work as an activist, Shannon is a talented vocalist and musician. She writes and performs original music with synth punk/pop band, MeteorEYES, and electro-dreampop solo set, Moxie-Moxie. Shannon seamlessly merges her passion for music with her career in activism and dreams of one day debuting a performing arts center.
I am both honored and deeply grateful to call Shannon my partner in life and in advocacy. Her activism is bold, brave, and comes from a place of gratitude and service for the community that has given her so much. Shannon is truly remarkable in her dedication to community activism and outreach, and I do not know anyone more deserving of this great distinction.
