KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — June is Pride Month — a time for the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate themselves and each other, standing in solidarity together.
And across East Tennessee, there are events where people can celebrate Pride Month surrounded by a supportive and inclusive community. There are also resources available for the LGBTQ+ community to find access to food, housing and a variety of other kinds of support.
A list of events people can participate in to celebrate Pride Month is available below.
Events in East Tennessee
Knox County
Pride Month Kick-Off Party (June 1, 6:30 p.m. -- South Press): Knox Pride and SoKno Pride are joining together for a Silent Disco at the South Press coffee shop, located at 3615 Chapman Highway. It goes until 9:30 p.m. and is free to attend. A coffee and food bar will be open.
HKRD Derby Pride Doubleheader (June 1, 5:30 p.m. -- World's Fair Exhibition Hall): People are encouraged to show up in their best Pride outfits and take photos at the door of this Pride-themed derby event. Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. It is hosted by the Hard Knox Roller Derby, with a 5 p.m. matchup between the Marble City Mayhem and the Appalachian Roller Derby group. At 7 p.m., the Brawlers go against the Smoky Mountain Roller Girls.
Pride Night at the Zoo (June 2, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. -- Zoo Knoxville): A fun tradition that attracts crowds of people and helps kick off Pride Month is returning — Pride Night. Organizers said this event is meant to give people a safe place to explore the zoo, surrounded by like-minded people. It is a key fundraiser for Knox Pride.
Trans People are Magic Cabaret (June 6, 6 p.m. -- South Press): This cabaret performance aims to raise money to help transgender people in the Knoxville area legally change their names. It features a cast of drag performers, and the suggested donation is $10. The performance is for people 18 years old or older.
One Knox presents Knoxville Pride Night (June 8, 7 p.m. -- Regal Soccer Stadium): Knoxville Pride Night is returning this year, dropping a Pride merch capsule for proceeds that benefit Knox Pride. A similar event was held last year, and this year soccer fans can find a discounted ticket online to watch the game against Lexington Sporting.
Sober Pride (June 8, 12 p.m. - Frog Juice Boocherie): This event is meant to bring together people to enjoy an event without alcohol. It will include live music, a vendor market and a menu of food options. It lasts until 10 p.m. at 2920 Sutherland Avenue and is presented by Frog Juice Boocherie and Sober in Knoxville.
Knox County Commission District 9 Forum (June 11, 6 p.m. -- Knox Pride Community Center): Knox Pride is hosting an informative event moderated by Jesse Mayshark from Compass Knoxville. The forum will be an area for candidates in District 9 to discuss their ideas and values, giving people a chance to hear firsthand the plans of candidates. Knox Pride said the event would also be livestreamed.
Pride Night Market (June 14, 6 p.m. -- South Press): Vendors will set up shop for a Pride Night Market at the South Press coffee shop! A coffee bar will be open along with some food. It ends at 8:30 p.m.
UNI-Tea at the Tennessean Hotel (June 22, 1 p.m. -- The Tennessean): This twist on a traditional tea service features several cocktails and is meant to celebrate culture and community. SoKno Pride said $2 of every drink sale will benefit SoKno Pride.
Knox Pride Saturday Market (June 22, 11 a.m. -- Knox Pride Community and Resource Center): This is a monthly market held at the Knox Pride Community Center, bringing together LGBTQ+ makers and artists to set up shop. It ends at 3 p.m.
Free Community Screening of The Birdcage (June 22, 6:30 p.m. -- The Tennessee Theatre): Join Knox Pride at the Tennesse Theatre for a free screening of The Birdcage, a 1996 film that follows a gay cabaret owner and his drag queen companion who pretend to be straight so their son can introduce them to his fiancee's right-wing parents.
South Press Charity Show (June 28, 7 p.m. -- South Press): A kind of kick-off event at South Press for the SoKno Pride Festival. This event has a $5 cover.
Appalachian Equality Chorus Presents "The Rainbow Runs Over Me" (June 28, June 29 -- Bijou Theatre): This performance falls on two days in Knoxville. — June 28 at 8 p.m. and June 29 at 5 p.m. The performance features stories from people across Tennessee, as well as some of the chorus' favorite music.
SoKno Pride Festival (June 29, 12 p.m., -- Sevier Avenue): This will mark the fourth annual SoKno Pride Festival, an event that routinely brings in large crowds. This year will feature performances and a local vendor market.
Blount County
Drag Bingo (June 1, show starts at 8 p.m. -- Southland Books and Cafe): This drag bingo event will be hosted by Tyra Von Shade, a drag performer. Tickets cost $15 and doors open at 6:30 p.m., with funds benefiting Blount Pride. The event is only for people 18 years old and older.
Washington County
The Rainbow Runs Over Me (June 23, 3 p.m. -- St. John's Episcopal Church, Johnson City): This performance by the Appalachian Equality Chorus features stories from people across Tennessee, as well as some of the chorus' favorite music.
Sevier County
Gatlinburg Pride March (June 2, 4:30 p.m.): Anyone interested in participating in the march can gather with the group below the lower plaza of the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and Gatlinburg Trolley Office. The march will be on the sidewalk up to the entrance of Ober Gatlinburg before crossing the street and marching down on the other side. Participants are encouraged to bring Pride gear, flags, posters and signs. However, noise amplifiers and light-emitting devices are not allowed.
Gatlinburg Pride Community Picnic (June 2, 6:30 p.m. -- Mynatt Park): The Sevier LGBTQIA2S+ group is also organizing a Gatlinburg Pride Community Picnic starting at 6:30 p.m. at 634 Asbury Lane. This event is effectively a community cookout starting immediately after the Gatlinburg Pride March. People are invited to bring a dish, drinks, chips, desserts or ice. Organizers said there are grills available to use at the park.
LGBTQ+ and Allies Monthly Meet Up: Book Talk Edition (June 13, 6 p.m. -- 190 Collier Drive): This event at a Sevier County Books-A-Million is bringing together people to talk about whatever they're reading. It also offers a chance to meet a state House District 12 candidate.
June Movie Night (June 27, 6 p.m. -- King Family Library): This event brings the LGBTQ+ community together at a Sevierville library, located at 408 High Street, for a movie!
History of Pride Month
Pride Month emerged from the Stonewall Uprising — a period of clashes between LGBTQ+ demonstrators and police that started on June 28, 1969. On that day, police in New York City raided the Stonewall Inn — a popular gay bar at the time. At the time, homosexuality and drag performances were considered a criminal offense.
As a result, bars like Stonewall operated without liquor licenses, effectively allowing police to raid at any time. Like many other LGBTQ+ establishments at the time, Stonewall was also owned by the mafia, which failed to respond in cases when clientele were harmed. As a result, police raided gay establishments several times and Stonewall was raided on average once a month.
On June 28, 1969, it reached a boiling point and a spontaneous act of resistance led to days of uprisings. An aggressive crowd met police as they started hauling away LGBTQ+ people. The crowd pelted officers with objects and blocked their way, forcing police to retreat and barricade inside of Stonewall.
Protests and demonstrations continued for six days, galvanizing the gay rights movement.
The Christopher Street Liberation Day Umbrella Committee, formed after the subsequent days of unrest, began planning a massive march in 1970 at the culmination of "Gay Pride Week." It was the first Pride parade, held on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
Almost 30 years later, then-President Bill Clinton declared June "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month" in 1999. A decade after that, then-President Barack Obama declared June as "LGBT Pride Month." Stonewall Inn was declared a national monument in 2016.
Now, Pride Month is celebrated across the U.S. — falling in June to commemorate the Stonewall Uprisings.
Resources for the LGBTQ+ community
Knox Pride (4028 Chapman Hwy, 865-978-3464): Based in Knoxville, Knox Pride offers a center where the LGBTQ+ community can gather and meet other people like themselves. They also offer a food pantry, which features a community fridge. They teach life skills and offer support groups, as well as a "thriftique" where people can find clothes and other items for cheap, or donate items they no longer need. They also have a long list of resources for everything from legal issues to college resources and spiritual resources.
Appalachian OUTreach (P.O. Box 5568, Maryville, 865-268-9098): The group started in Dec. 2015, and has since grown to serve the LGBTQ+ community in several counties across East Tennessee. They are able to connect people with mental health resources, community resources, healthcare resources, and many others.
Bryant's Bridge (P.O. Box 9422, Knoxville, 865-604-7327): Bryant's Bridge was created to help provide housing for people who may not be able to find it. It was created to be a safe place and a long-term option with the goal of linking other supporting services, eventually helping young people avoid homelessness and smoothly transition into adulthood.
Tennessee Equality Project (P.O. Box 330875, Nashville): This advocacy group works to make sure LGBTQ+ people are treated equally in the state's laws. While they do not provide social services and can't give legal advice, they may be able to make a referral.
Trans Empowerment Project (info@transempowerment.org): This advocacy group works directly with the LGBTQ+ community, and especially transgender people, to make sure basic needs are met. They facilitate emergency food deliveries, transportation to safe shelters, and more. They also provide resources and education for allies.