BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Blount Pride hosted a rally in lieu of an official festival this year. The organization faced multiple issues in securing a venue and security.
In June, Maryville College declined to host this year’s Blount Pride festival after the event gained national attention in 2023. This came after District Attorney General Ryan Desmond said he would enforce Tennessee’s Adult Entertainment Act if drag were present at the festival in 2023. The American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Blount Pride and Flamy Grant, a local drag artist, filed a lawsuit challenging the law.
“It’s been really frustrating,” said Shannon Bryant, a member of Blount Pride’s Board of Directors.
Bryant said that Maryville College did not want them on their campus, regardless of drag being present.
“They first said you cannot have drag on our campus," said Bryant. "And then when we asked them to be more specific, what is drag? Is a trans singer/songwriter on stage drag? They told us no, you just can’t be here at all."
Following Maryville College declining to host the event, Blount Pride then applied to host the festival at its 2022 location, Jack Greene Park. After talks with the City of Maryville, Blount Pride and city leaders were unable to reach an agreement regarding security for the event.
“We could not come to an agreement on the security measures that were needed, that we would pay for. So, we decided that we were not comfortable having our festival there this year,” said Bryant.
This has rattled members of the LGBTQ+ community in Blount County as they feel officials are not doing enough to keep them safe. Some community members even said that the county is taking the side of prejudice.
“Fear is what I see when Blount County’s own elected officials, peacekeepers, and institutions give priority and precedent to the weird, creepy and over-reaching prejudices of a few,” said Flamy Grant, a local drag artist at the visibility rally.
Counter-protestors lined the opposite side of the street from the visibility rally. They said the issue is protecting children.
“I’m all for freedom, but when you start getting kids involved, you start having these rallies when you’re trying to indoctrinate people and trying to recruit people into your army, that’s not good. We won’t stand for that,” said one person protesting Blount Pride’s visibility rally.
Despite these issues and protestors, members of Blount County’s LGBTQ+ community continue to remain optimistic.
“They seem to be very vocal, but very small, and I am surrounded by people who are full of love,” said Orion Mars, a local community member.