2019 PrideBook

eaking walls
for fifty years.

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WELCOMING YOU TO
KNOX PRIDEFEST 2019
Welcome to Knox Pride’s 14th annual Pridefest! This year marks the 50th anniversary
of Stonewall, which served as the catalyst for the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the
United States. While commemorating these events and those throughout America,
we will also be taking you through the history of Knoxville. Each milestone is marked
by the determination of our community to bring about change.
One such milestone was the installation of Chip Barry as the first LGBTQ+ Liaison to
the Mayor. This step helped to further the voice of the LGBTQ+ community with the
City of Knoxville. We are pleased to announce Chip as a 2019 Knox Pride Parade Co-
Marshal!
This year’s festivities kick off on May 4th with Next2Nothing at Jackson Terminal
which is followed by a calendar full of events for May and June, all culminating with
the Knox Pride Parade and Pridefest. At the Parade will also be welcoming Del
Shores of “Sordid Lives” and “Southern Baptist Sissies” as a 2019 Knox Pride Parade
Co-Marshal. Pridefest’s entertainment will cover two stages - with the main stage
line-up including: a set by “The Sh*t Stirrer”, Del Shores; a very special appearance by
the “Media Breakout” Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 10, Miss Vanjie as well as
ADA VOX Pop Singer, Drag Queen & Top 8 “Finalist” from American Idol 18!
All of these amazing events would not be possible without the commitment of
our Sponsors and Volunteers. The Knox Pride Board thanks each of you for your
support and dedication to promoting equality and raising awareness of the LGBTQ+
community within Knoxville and the surrounding areas. Every voice makes a
difference.
Let us take this time to remember those who came before and continue to look
towards our future.
Jen Green,
President
Knox Pride
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2019 Official Host Hotel
$132.00 rate with group code “KPF”
865-523-2300
www.hiltonknoxville.com

May 1, 2019
Welcome to Knoxville PrideFest 2019!
As Mayor, I’m proud to serve a city that recognizes and embraces the
contributions of all its citizens. It’s never been more important than right now to
affirm and celebrate how our diversity strengthens and energizes us.
PrideFest is now a full season of festivity, with numerous Dine Out with Pride
events leading up to the Knox Pride Picnic on June 2, the
Art Out in the City Art Show & Auction on June 14, and
the culminating 14th Knoxville Pride Parade and
PrideFest on Saturday, June 22.
This year’s main event honors and commemorates the
50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a landmark
event in our nation’s pursuit of equaly rights for its LGBT
citizens.
Locally, Knox Pride has been a consistent leader in
community activism and education, bringing a myriad of
residents together under one rainbow flag.
I am grateful to PrideFest organizers for their efforts to not merely host events
that emphasize the vitality and importance of our local LGBT community, but also
for inviting all of Knoxville to the party. As the crowds attest, PrideFest is a
festival for everyone.
I am honored to serve as your Mayor, and I wish everyone a happy and
successful PrideFest!
Sincerely,
Mayor, City of Knoxville
CITY COUNTY BUILDING • ROOM 691 • 400 MAIN STREET • P.O. BOX 1631 • KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37901
PHONE: 865-215-2040 • FAX: 865-215-2085 • EMAIL: MAYOR@KNOXVILLETN.GOV
WWW.KNOXVILLETN.GOV
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THE
STONEWALL RIOTS
Parts of this story have been previously published on the blog Inside of Knoxville
Written By Oren Yarbrough & Edited by Maggie Cole
THIS YEAR MARKS AN EXTRAORDINARY ANNIVERSARY - THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE STONEWALL RIOTS AND THE GENESIS OF THE LGBTQ RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
In the early morning hours of June 28th,
1969, New York City police carried out a
raid on the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay
bar in the heavily LGBTQ neighborhood
of Greenwich Village. Sadly, raids on gay
bars were a common method employed
to marginalize and drive out the LGBTQ
community from the rare spaces they
occupied. However, on this night the
bar’s patrons boiled over with anger and
resistance in a pivotal moment that sparked
a revolution.
In order to understand the intense reaction
from the bar patrons at Stonewall Inn
and the bystanders on Christopher Street
you also must know some LGBTQ history
leading up to this point in time.
Following the end of the Second World War
a large number of LGBTQ people moved
to cities like Chicago, San Francisco, Los
Angeles, and New York City in the hopes
of finding greater acceptance and a fresh
start. The large number of new LGBTQ
citizens moving to these cities presented
the opportunity to create gay communities
for increased safety and the sharing of
culture and place-making. However, public
authorities were antagonistic.
forms of society. In 1953 President Dwight
Eisenhower signed Executive order 10450,
which immediately barred homosexuals
from working in any forms of government.
The mass firing of nearly 5,000 persons in
the State Department, military, and other DC
agencies is now known as the “Lavender
Scare.” It was doubly upsetting because
after the individuals were fired they were
also publicly outed. Many would lose their
homes and families and everything they
had worked for up to that moment. For the
next couple of decades following Executive
Order 10450 thousands of job applications
were denied throughout the US government,
effectively ensuring that there was no one
in a position of power that could work for
LGBTQ rights.
During the 1950s and 1960s the FBI
regularly kept track of the names and
addresses of known homosexuals. They
would gather as much information as
possible on their activities as part of the US
government’s efforts to fight communism.
During this time the US Postal Service
Government Workers Protesting Executive Order 10450
regularly tracked and recorded all addresses
that had mail sent to and from known
homosexuals.
Following the time of the Lavender Scare
and Executive Order 10450 many state and
city governments shut down gay-owned
establishments and places known to cater
to homosexuals. In cities throughout the US
raids were regularly conducted to expel gay
people from bars, beaches, parks, and even
neighborhoods. When an establishment that
was known to cater to homosexuals was
raided and shut down, all the patrons inside
the bar were arrested on public indecency
charges and their name and pictures were
placed in the newspaper for the public to
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Federal, state, and city laws became heavily
anti-homosexual in the decades following
the Second World War due to a media
fueled panic that began with the McCarthy
hearings and the “Red Scare.” Members of
the federal government believed that people
who led a homosexual lifestyle or performed
homosexual acts were more likely to be
blackmailed into giving away government
secrets or actively spying for a communist
organization. The US government also
believed that homosexuals were emotionally
and mentally inferior to normal persons and
were in general a great security risk in all

see. Once a person was publicly outed
to everyone else in the community they
usually lost their job and were shunned
by their family and even evicted from their
home. In some cases, once discovered as
a homosexual some gay men and women
were even institutionalized in mental
hospitals since it was a commonly held
belief at the time that being gay was a form
of a mental illness that could be treated or
cured using torturous and barbaric forms of
therapy.
While in many conservative or traditional
parts of the country homosexuals were
essentially forced into living a double life
in order to support themselves, in larger
cities like New York and San Francisco
the larger numbers of gays living in such
close proximity gave a sense of protection
not found elsewhere at the time. While the
public view of gay people was still very
negative even in these larger cities, the
regular police raids in these gay districts
were less effective at shutting down an
establishment or scaring away the clientele
for fear of being outed. City and state
governments would regularly use police
raids on gay establishments as a form of
media hype to help stir up public support
during an election campaign, scaring the
public into believing that the opposition
candidate will open the doors to the
homosexual hordes and the impending
wave of immorality that comes with them.
This is a tactic still used today in one form
or another for elections of all sizes.
It is after years of this repetitive cycle of
antagonism and fear, police raids and
attempts to shut down gay establishments
that we find ourselves at the Stonewall
Inn in Greenwich Village in 1969. The
Stonewall Inn is located in a fairly central
area of the gay district and faces a park
where Christopher Street and Grove Street
intersects to the South. The diverse ethnic
makeup of the patrons that go to Stonewall
Inn added to the image of the bar being
“THE gay bar in the city.” Like a lot of other
gay bars in the area at this time, it was
widely known that Stonewall Inn was owned
and run by the mafia. It was common for
the mafia during this time to own gay bars
as a means of making profits by exploiting
the market demand for gay gathering
places mixed with the communities inferior
legal standing and constant fear of being
arrested and outed. Most of these style gay
bars had bootlegged watered down drinks
and plumbing that barely worked, but the
gay community embraced them out of
necessity.
to someone of the same sex. After entering
the bar the police would make everyone line
up in a row to check IDs and evaluate the
opposite gender dress code.
It was exactly during a raid like this on June
28th, 1969, that the police began to arrest
a handful of gay, lesbian and transgender
individuals. During the arrests the crowd
began to get vocal with the police and resist
showing their identification or allow the
female officers to check their gender. Soon
the police officers separated the crowd into
two rooms and announced that they were
going to be arresting all of the persons in
the second room for violating the genderbased
dress code. While the police began
frisking and handcuffing the group of people
in the second room the mood turned even
more hostile, reportedly because they
witnessed the police officers inappropriately
touching the lesbians while frisking them.
Meanwhile, outside of Stonewall, a crowd
had begun to form after hearing of yet
One common way that many states were
able to grant the legal right to raid and arrest
patrons of LGBTQ establishments was
through a law that barred the wearing of
clothes of the opposite gender. Using this
law, during raids of gay spaces police would
examine and scrutinize all of the persons
who appeared to be gender non-conforming.
They made them prove that they were in
fact a man if they were dressed like a man,
or that they were in fact a woman if they
were dressed like one. Anyone that was
wearing more than a certain number of
items of clothes that would be considered
to belong to the opposite sex (I’ve seen
3 items listed a handful of times, but this
varies) were arrested and publicly shamed
in the newspaper or on the nightly news.
The reaction from the crowd was explosive and quick.
Stonewall had two separate dance floors,
so it was one of the more popular places for
gays to frequent for fun. Because the bar
was operated by the mafia they were usually
tipped off ahead of time to an upcoming
police raid. When the raid was about to
begin the bar manager would turn on all the
overhead lights and signal to everyone to
not get caught dancing or being too close
another raid on a local gay establishment.
Individuals released from inside the bar left
and joined the forming crowd, fueling the
excitement of the moment. Soon the crowd
outside the bar had assembled to well
over 100 people waiting for the inevitable
parading of the arrested individuals to the
paddy wagons.
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There was just one problem. The patrol
wagons had been delayed due to confusion
over the radio. The first wagon didn’t arrive
for over 15 minutes, giving the crowd plenty
of time to swell to a number that easily
outnumbered the police by hundreds. After
the patrol wagon arrived on the scene
the police first began putting the mafia
members in the back, followed by the first
group of the bar patrons. Throughout the
crowd a rumor had begun to spread that the
police were beating the people inside the
bar. A police officer shoved a transvestite
as he walked to the paddy wagon, causing
a rumble in the crowd. Someone swung a
purse to hit the officer over the head.
People started to throw small objects at the
police cars and the paddy wagon in protest.
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When one butch lesbian was brought out
of the bar she began to fight the police,
screaming that her handcuffs were too
tight. After being hit over the head by one
police officer, the woman tried to run from
him. She ultimately wound up being chased
by, and fighting off, up to four police officers
for near ten minutes. In the final moments
of this scuffle the lesbian looked to the
crowd and yelled, “Why don’t you guys do
something?” as she was picked up and
thrown into the back of the paddy wagon.
The reaction from the crowd was explosive
and quick. Large numbers of people rushed
the police cars and began attempting to flip
them over. Beer cans, coins, and rocks were
thrown at the police and the vehicles and
front of the bar. Some police officers quickly
fled the scene in the one or two vehicles that
were still in drivable condition while a small
number fled into the bar for protection. The
crowd outside the bar began to throw all
kinds of different objects at the front of the
building in an effort to gain entrance inside,
at one point even lighting garbage on fire
and stuffing it between the cracks in the
wood that covered the front windows.
The most visible individuals during this
moment of the protest were the “flame
queens, hustlers, and street kids,” the most
oppressed portion of the gay community
then (and in many cases still the most
oppressed today). The street kids were
supposedly uprooted a parking meter to use
to try and beat down the front door of the
Stonewall.
This intense standoff with the police
trapped inside the bar finally came to an
end after backup officers, fire trucks, and a
Tactical Patrol Force (TPF) arrived on the
scene to disperse the riot and free them.
The TPF was not able to completely clear
the streets of the mob until 4 am, almost 3
hours after the standoff had first started.
The mob at first mocked the TPF by forming
an kick line and chanting slogans like chorus
girls, which angered the officers and caused
them to rush the line. More vehicles were
overturned and just about anything glass
was smashed in all directions. In total 13
people were arrested and 4 police officers
injured. Many of the people arrested were
transvestites who fought back against the
TPF once they had begun their sweep of the
crowd.
The next day the streets in front of
Stonewall Inn were quiet with small crowds
wandering up sporadically to see the burned
and pock marked façade of the bar. The
New York Times, New York Post, and New
York Daily News all ran articles on the
previous night’s events. All sorts of rumors
of what caused the riots spread throughout
the city, but the LGBTQ people living in NYC
and all over the United States at this time
knew what caused the Riot at Stonewall Inn.
A quote by Stonewall Protester, Michael
Fader:
We all had a collective feeling like we'd
had enough of this kind of s**t. It wasn't
anything tangible anybody said to anyone
else, it was just kind of like everything
over the years had come to a head on that
one particular night in the one particular
place…..It was time to reclaim something
that had always been taken from us …..And
we felt that we had freedom at last, or
freedom to at least show that we demanded
freedom. We weren't going to be walking
meekly in the night and letting them shove
us around—it's like standing your ground for
the first time and in a really strong way, and
that's what caught the police by surprise.
There was something in the air, freedom a
long time overdue, and we're going to fight
for it. It took different forms, but the bottom
line was, we weren't going to go away. And
we didn't.

For days after the initial riot, crowds in the
thousands gathered each night in front of
Stonewall Inn and held slightly less violent,
but still passionate demonstrations to voice
their refusal to accept the status quo. While
not the first protest by the gay community
during this era, the Stonewall Riots became
a catalyst for other LGBTQ movements and
resistance organizations across the country.
They made an impact that is still felt today.
One year later, on June 28th, 1970, the NYC
Gay Community celebrated “Christopher
Street Liberation Day” by holding a large
assembly in front of Stonewall Inn and
then marching 51 blocks to Central Park.
This was the first LGBT Pride March in US
History.
This Pridefest we embrace and celebrate
the anniversary of these individuals who
banded together to demonstrate that we are
stronger when we stand united and whose
inner fire and courage inspire us to this day.
Happy Pride, Everyone!
Leidos+ Pride
One Celebration
leidos.com/pride
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PRIDEFEST
June 23rd l 12-8pm
Mary Costa Plaza and
Performance Lawn
MAY 4 th
JUNE 2 nd
JUNE 6 TH
JUNE 14 TH
JUNE 20 th
JUNE 21 ST
JUNE 21 ST
NEXT 2 NOTHING
Friday, June 4 TH l 7:30pm
Jackson Terminal
Swimwear and underwear show and auction.
PRIDEFEST PICNIC
Sunday, June 2 nD l 1-4pm
Holston River Park
STONEWALL DOCUMENTARY
Thursday, June 6 TH
Central Cinema • Free to the Public
ART OUT IN THE CITY
Friday, June 14 TH l 6:00pm
Jackson Terminal
Art show and auction with food and drinks included
DRINKS & DISCO PRIDE PREPARTY
Thursday, June 2O TH l 6:00pm
Elkmont Exchange
HILTON DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE
PRIDE KICK OFF PARTY
Friday, June 21 ST l 7pm
Hilton Hotel Downtown Knoxville
ADA VOX CONCERT
THE HISTORIC BIJOU THEATRE
Friday, June 21 ST l 8pm
Historic Bijou Theatre • Downtown Knoxville
PARADE
Starts at 1030am
Gay Street
For a full list of events visit KnoxPride.com/Events
or our Facebook Page
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MAY
Wild Wing Cafe (Emory Rd)
Wednesday | May 15 TH | 5pm - 10pm
Olive Garden (Kingston Pike)
Tuesday | May 21 ST | 5pm - 10pm
Bistro at the Bijou
Thursday | May 23 RD | 5pm - 10pm
Old City Wine Bar
Sunday | May 26 TH | Drag Brunch 11 - 3pm
DINE OUT
JUNE
Melting Pot
June 19 TH & 20 TH | 4pm - Close
Elkmont Exchange
Thursday | June 20 TH | 6pm - 10pm
WITH PRIDE
Support Local Restaurants that
Support You!
Cru
Sunday | June 23 RD | 10am - 2pm
Sweet P's
Wednesday | June 26 TH | All Day
Sunspot
Saturday | June 29 TH | All Day
Stonewall Celebration Party
JULY
Tomato Head (Both Locations)
Sunday | June 7 TH | All Day
Hooters (Kingston Pike)
Monday | June 8 TH | All Day
Barley's (Old City Location)
Thursday | June 18 TH | 5pm - 10pm
August
Hard Rock Cafe
Saturday | August 10 TH | 5pm - 11pm
The Hill
Sunday | August 11 TH | All Day
RSVP on Facebook to join our group table for each event.
What is Dine Out with Pride?
Formerly known as an Eat Out with
Pride, this is a night designated for
the LGBTQ+ and ally communities to
patronize a Knox Pride sponsorship
restaurant. This is one way that
Knox Pride tries to give back to the
restaurants that support us. It also
allows us the opportunity to meet
members of the community that may
or may not want to take a more active
role in what we are doing or just want
to put a face to the name. Without the
support of our Knoxville community
and businesses, we would not be able
to have this festival or other events
each year. At this time more than ever,
we have to stand by and support those
that are willing to stand up and support
us. Please consider coming out to a few
of them with some friends! You don't
have to sit with us, just let them know
you are with Knox Pride so they know!
We look forward to seeing you there!
For a full list of events visit KnoxPride.com/Events
or our Facebook Page
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PARADE ROUTE & STAGING
Presented to you by Miller Lite
This year promises to be the biggest and best
Parade Knox PrideFest has ever seen!
Staging for the parade will take place on
Saturday, June 22 ND at 9:00am at the Jackson Ave. &
Patton St. surface lot (under James White Pkwy)
The parade will start promptly at 1030am, starting at North Gay St,
turn left on E. Hill Ave towards Hall of Fame Dr., Turn left on Hall of
Fame Dr and head North, Turn right on Howard Baker Avenue and
then right on Honor Our Troops Drive for disembarking.
We invite you to be a part of the celebration!
Do you own a business? Go to a supportive church?
Are you in a community group? If so, grab a few
friends and a banner or, better yet, build a float. Feel
free to be as creative as possible while promoting
your business, church, group, etc. Don’t forget the
beads, candy, flyers, and water as the crowd always
loves freebies! Just use our 2019 PrideFest Theme
“Breaking walls for 50 Years” in your float design/
decoration and you might just be one of our winners!
Categories this year are: Best Float, Most Walkers,
Most Original. Be creative with your float design/
decoration/performance and you might just be one
of our winners!
To register for the parade go to www.knoxpride.com
under the “Events” tab. Click parade and fill out the
form. It’s FREE and as simple as that to register. You
will also find a map of the parade route on that same
page so you can get your friends to come cheer you
on. However, if you plan to participate in the 2019
PrideFest Parade you need to register no later than
Wednesday, June 19th.
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Grand Marshall
DEL SHORES
Del Shores is the writer/director/producer of the
films Sordid Lives, Blues for Willadean, Southern Baptist
Sissies and A Very Sordid Wedding. He wrote and executive
produced the MGM feature Daddy’s Dyin’...Who’s Got The
Will? He has written seven plays, all published by Samuel
French, produced thousands of times worldwide, four
adapted for screen. In television, Del wrote, directed,
executive produced and created the LOGO series, Sordid
Lives: The Series. He also wrote and executive produced
Showtime’s groundbreaking Queer As Folk for the last three
seasons, wrote and produced for Dharma & Greg and Ned
& Stacey. He has directed Academy Award winner Octavia
Spencer; Grammy Award winner Olivia Newton-John;
Emmy winners/nominees Beau Bridges, Delta Burke, Leslie
Jordan, Bonnie Bedelia, Bobbie Eakes, Patrika Darbo and
Rue McClanahan; Spirit Award winner Dale Dickey; Screen
Actor’s Guild Award-winner Beth Grant; as well as Caroline
Rhea, Debby Holiday and David Steen. As a performer,
Shores has performed in hundreds of standup gigs and
just completed a 2018 national tour with his new critically
acclaimed and award-winning one-man play Six Characters
In Search Of A Play directed by Emerson Collins, which was
filmed in 2019 at The Celebration Theatre live for upcoming
film festivals and DVD/streaming release. He is standup
show Del Shores The Sh*t Stirrer is currently on tour.
Co-Grand Marshall
CHIP BARRY
Chip Barry is the Deputy Chief of Operations for the City
of Knoxville. Mayor Madeline Rogero appointed Mr. Barry
as the first LGBT Liaison to the Mayor in 2016. After
working for Mayor Rogero since she took office in 2010
and advising her on issues impacting the LGBT community,
the position was created to serve as a resource to make
Knoxville more inclusive. As LGBT Liaison to the Mayor,
Chip has worked closely with organizations like Knox Pride,
Tennessee Equality Project, Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus,
and Human Rights Campaign as an advocate for LGBT
rights.
For more information about LGBT Equality in Knoxville,
please visit the Mayor’s Office page at
www.knoxilletn.gov .
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Official Knox Pride
Ringer Tee
$ 30

MERCHANDISE
V-Neck T-Shirts
Stickers
Keychain
Knox Pride Appalachian Queen Fan - Available with or without text
ALSO AVAILABLE:
• • Fanny Packs • •
• • Shorts • •
• • Buttons • •
Tank Tops
Available at KnoxPride.com/Apparel or select Pride events.
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DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
TUESDAY
MAY 21ST | 5 - 10PM
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KNOX PRIDE HERITAGE NIGHT
THE POSTERS WERE CREATED FOR PRIDE AND DISPLAYED FOR THE PUBLIC IN THE 1980'S & 1990'S.
NOW PRESERVED UNDER THE CARE OF THE EAST TENNESSEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
SUNDAY
MAY 26TH | 11 - 3PM
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KNOX PRIDE BIG GAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE
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OFFICIAL
BEVERAGE
SPONSOR

OFFICIAL
BEVERAGE
SPONSOR
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POSITIVELY
Summer
LIVING’S
Swing
Sultry Savannah Nights
SATURDAY, JULY 27 | 7–11 PM
THE KNOXVILLE BOTANICAL GARDENS
join us for the party
of the summer! ! LIVE MUSIC,
DRINKS, SOUTHERN CUISINE,
LIVE AUCTION, GREAT COMPANY
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Positively Living serves
vulnerable groups struggling
to survive the challenges
created by HIV/AIDS,
homelessness, mental illness,
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Purchase Your Tickets
at Positively-Living.org

• Use promo code PRIDE to receive 50% off
when booking your future event on 6/22/2019 and
6/23/2019. Discount rate drops to 25% on 6/24/19.
• Ask us about hosting your Birthday, Graduation
& Retirement Parties and other Special Events
• Ask us about our Private & Corporate events.
(We close our business for you.)
• We offer Special Services Discounts.
• Check our website for details on our Escape
Game Tournaments.
• Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
& LinkedIn.
815 South Central Street #301, Knoxville, TN 37902
Office: 865-279-6181
Email: info@escapegameknoxville.com
website: www.escapegameknoxville.com
Escape Game Knoxville is an indoor entertainment & team building activity where you will use your wits and logic to find clues to
help solve puzzles or make magic in an attempt to escape what some believe is impossible. Check us out if you are looking for
something to do for family fun or a business team building activity.
Are you up to the challenge? You have one hour to…
Survive “THE PURGE” (10% Completion Rate) or Outwit the Villain and his bomb in our “The Villains Lair” (23% Completion Rate)
or try to defeat Rumpelstiltskin and restore magic to the Enchanted Forest in our “Once Upon A Time” (33% Completion Rate) or
maybe your taste leans toward proving or disproving a government conspiracy concerning mind control in our
“MK Ultra” room. (35% Completion Rate)
• Use promo code PRIDE to receive 50% off
when booking your future event on 6/22/2019 and
6/23/2019. Discount rate drops to 25% on 6/24/19.
• Ask us about hosting your Birthday, Graduation
& Retirement Parties and other Special Events
• Ask us about our Private & Corporate events.
(We close our business for you.)
• We offer Special Services Discounts.
• Check our website for details on our Escape
Game Tournaments.
• Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
& LinkedIn.
815 South Central Street #301, Knoxville, TN 37902
Office: 865-279-6181
Email: info@escapegameknoxville.com
website: www.escapegameknoxville.com
Escape Game Knoxville is an indoor entertainment & team building activity where you will use your wits and logic to find clues to
help solve puzzles or make magic in an attempt to escape what some believe is impossible. Check us out if you are looking for
something to do for family fun or a business team building activity.
Are you up to the challenge? You have one hour to…
Survive “THE PURGE” (10% Completion Rate) or Outwit the Villain and his bomb in our “The Villains Lair” (23% Completion Rate)
or try to defeat Rumpelstiltskin and restore magic to the Enchanted Forest in our “Once Upon A Time” (33% Completion Rate) or
maybe your taste leans toward proving or disproving a government conspiracy concerning mind control in our
“MK Ultra” room. (35% Completion Rate)
30

DID YOU KNOW?
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In the days before the internet, when many LGBTQ people were travelling
they would rely on a gay guide books to help determine what places in a
foreign city were friendly to gay people.

TOGETHER WE
STAND PROUD
B:11.25”
T:11”
S:10”
#UNLIMITEDPRIDE
At T-Mobile, we believe in equality for every individual because there’s nothing more
beautiful than being your true self. We’re proud to stand with the LGBTQ community
in celebration of Knox Pride and the 50th anniversary of Stonewall.
T-Mobile and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG.
ARE YOU WITH US? is a registered trademark of T-Mobile USA, Inc. © 2019 T-Mobile USA, Inc.
32

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From individual and business taxation to bookkeeping and accounting software consulting, our
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P: (865) 444-5134
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www.adtaylorcpa.com
33

so check
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Fu
Voted “Knoxville’s FINEST Radio Station” 2015 - 2017
– Blank Newspaper Knoxville’s Finest Awards
Voted “Knoxville’s TOP Radio Station” 2015 & 2016
– Knox Mercury Top Knox Awards
Voted “Knoxville’s BEST Radio Station” 2006-2014
by Metro Pulse readers
Ranked the “SIXTH BEST College Radio Station in the the U.S.”
in 2016 by Value Colleges
Named One of the TOP 20 College Radio Stations in America
in 2014 by Best College Reviews
“One of the 10 MOST LISTENED TO College Stations in America.”
– mtvU 2012
“One of the COOLEST 20 College Radio Stations in America” in 2011
– Men’s Health magazine
“One of the 40 BEST Little Radio Stations in America!” in 2010
– Paste Magazine
What are YOU listening to?
WUTK proudly sponsors
Knoxville PrideFest 2018
On the airwaves and streaming 24.7.365 @ WUTKRADIO.COM
or listen on your smart device app:
or
34

06.07.2019
DOWNTOWN DIVE
410 W. JACKSON AVE
KNOXVILLE, TN 37902
T 865-281-1738
DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 26TH | ALL DAY
SOUL HOUSE
3725 MARYVILLE PIKE
KNOXVILLE, TN 37920
T 865-247-7748
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11130 Kingston Pike, Suite 7 & 8
Knoxville TN 37934
John Law, M.D.
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OFFICIAL
PRIDE MERCH
VENDOR
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41

Announcing the 2019 - 2020 Season!
Madama Butterfly
(Puccini)
October 25 and 27, 2019
Romeo et Juliette
(Gounod)
February 14 and 16, 2020
Harriet Tubman
(Okoye)
May 1 and 3, 2020
First production
since its 2014 NYC premiere!
42

VIP COCKTAIL HOUR 7PM-8PM
RAIN OR SHINE
PRIDE PRE-PARTY
06.21.2019
GENERAL PUBLIC 8PM-10PM
1/2 PRICE APPETIZERS & BEER SPECIALS
43
OFFICIAL
PRIDE HOST
HOTEL
The Firefly • Hilton Hotel Downtown Knoxville
501 W. Church Ave

We Provide the following Services:
Wedding Planning
Officiants
Elopements
866.40WEDDING
www.comegetmarried.com
44

DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
JUNE 19TH | 4 - 10PM
& 20TH
DIP, SIP, & DINE WITH PRIDE!
JUNE 19 & 20 4PM-10PM
DIP, SIP, & DINE WITH PRIDE!
JUNE 19 & 20 | 4PM - 10PM
Take Pride in our dip-tastic three-course "Rainbow"
special! Dip into any Cheese Fondue, "Pride" Entree,
and Chocolate Fondue for only
r dip-tastic three-course "Rainbow"
any Cheese Fondue, "Pride" Entree,
hocolate Fondue for only
per person*
$29 per person* MELTINGPOT.COM
111 NORTH CENTRAL ST. | KNOXVILLE | TN 37902 | (865) 971-5400
* The Melting Pot locations are locally owned and operated. Offer is valid at this location only. All menu items are priced and portioned per person.
Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with any other promotional offer, discount or dip certificate. See store for details or restrictions.
MELTINGPOT.COM
FOUR COURSES
STARTING AT
PER PERSON
00
$
00
11 NORTH CENTRAL ST. | KNOXVILLE | TN 37902 | (865) 971-5400
111 NORTH CENTRAL ST. KNOXVILLE TN 37902
T 865.971.5400
are locally owned and operated. Offer is valid at this location only. All menu items are priced and portioned per person.
cluded. Not valid with any other promotional offer, discount or dip certificate. See store for details or restrictions.
*THE MELTING POT LOCATIONS ARE LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED. OFFER IS VALID AT THIS LOCATION
ONLY. ALL MENU ITEMS ARE PRICED AND PORTIONED PER PERSON. TAX AND GRATIUITY NOT INCLUDED.
NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER PROMOTIONAL OFFER, DISCOUNT OR DIP CERTICIFCATE. SEE STORE FOR
DETAILS OR RESTRICTIONS.
Take Pride in our dip-tastic three-course "Rainbow"
special! Dip into any Cheese Fondue, "Pride" Entree,
and Chocolate Fondue for only
$29 per person* MELTINGPOT.COM
FIRST TENNESSEE
a stronger community
111 NORTH CENTRAL ST. | KNOXVILLE | TN 37902 | (865) 971-5400
* The Melting Pot locations are locally owned and operated. Offer is valid at this location only. All menu items are priced and portioned per person.
Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with any other promotional offer, discount or dip certificate. See store for details or restrictions.
Alliance & Allies Employee Resource Group of First Tennessee proudly supports Knoxville
PRIDE and others like it that make our community a better place to live and work.
STOP BY OR VISIT US AT FTB.COM
45
©2019 First Tennessee Bank National Association operating as First Tennessee Bank and Capital Bank. Member FDIC.

Entertainment Schedule
MAIN STAGE
12:30
Opening Speech
12:30
Knoxville Opera Company
1:00
Knoxville Gay Mens Chorus
1:30
Del Shores..........Director, Producer, Writer, Playwright, Actor
2:00
The Pinklets...........................Original Rock from Knoxville
3:00
Pulp Friction................................High-Energy Cover Band
4:00
Main Stage Drag Spectacular feat. Miss Vanjie
5:00
Leanna Eden..........................New Wave Singer-Songwriter
6:00
Ada Vox.........Pop Singer, Drag Queen, American Idol Finalist
7:00
Deconbrio.............................Industrial Rock from Knoxville
SECOND STAGE
12:00
Adeem the Artist.....................Eclectic Singer-Songwriter
1:00
Buffalo Fiasco.................Modern Bluegrass from Knoxville
2:00
Drag & Fringe Arts Variety Show............Local Talent
3:00
Adeem the Artist.....................Eclectic Singer-Songwriter
4:00
Buffalo Fiasco.................Modern Bluegrass from Knoxville
5:00
Drag & Fringe Arts Variety Show............Local Talent
Lineup and Schedule subject to change
46

ADA VOX
ADA VOX ISN’T MESSING AROUND. SHE PUT JUDGE KATY PERRY, AND AMERICA, ON NOTICE: SHE IS IN THIS LIFE TO WIN IT!
Ada did not let that deter her from her
dream and when she heard the show
was coming back to ABC, she decided to
audition again as Ada Vox, a person with a
lot more confidence and an innate belief
in herself. “I was an OK singer as Adam.
But I’m a hundred times better now than
I ever was then. I’m vocally better, I’m a
better performer, I’m a better entertainer,
I’m more prepared as an adult to take
on the challenges that come with a
competition like this.”
Ada has released her first single “Because
of You” written by Janice Robinson
(Kristine W., Deborah Cox) and produced
by Bimbo Jones (Rihanna, Kylie Minogue,
Lady Gaga). She’s excited to share it with
all the people (#Voxies) who embraced
her on this go-round of American Idol and
to brand new audiences as she continues
to tour the globe.
47
A San Antonio based drag queen who sang
her heart out on ABC’s “American Idol,”
Ada became a Semi-finalist, something
that would have been unheard of several
years ago. Her appearance marks a first
for the show, and people still talk about
her performance of The Animals “House
of the Rising Sun” as one of the stand-out
auditions of the season.
Rewind five years to 2013 when Ada Vox
auditioned for Fox’s American Idol back
when she was known as Adam Sanders.
In one of his Season 12 performances,
he got a standing ovation from three of
the four judges with his performance
of Etta James’s “I’d Rather Go Blind.”
Despite this, he not only got eliminated
after Hollywood week, but had to endure
taunts, teasing and threats from people
on social media. Ada revealed on this
year’s show that “People attacked my
weight, my sexuality, telling me that I was
horrible, that I sucked, that I don’t deserve
to be here, that I shouldn’t be who I am.
And I let it get to me in a wrong way. It
killed me inside...I was contemplating lots
of things that I shouldn’t have.”
“I’M NOT HERE TO PLAY WITH ANYBODY.
I’M HERE TO CHASE MY DREAMS AND MAKE
THEM COME TRUE.”
The 24-year-old was born in San Antonio,
TX. Attended UTSA (University of Texas at
San Antonio) while working at a restaurant
by day and was a drag queen by night.
Ada lists her influences as Lady Gaga,
Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle
(with whom she got to perform with on
Idol) and other strong women who project
an inner self-confidence with their stage
personas. In fact, her performance of
Jennifer Hudson’s “I am Telling You I am
not Going” as a Top 10 finalist brought the
house down.
Even though Ada didn’t make it to the top
spot, she made history as the first-ever
Drag Queen to make it as an American
Idol Top 8 finalist. Upon her departure,
none other than superstar judge Lionel
Richie said, “Listen, I want to say – you
have to know how special this is to have
you on this show. You are a movement
unto yourself. I am telling you, I’m so
proud of you, keep it up my dear, it’s
fantastic.”
What’s next for Ada?
The Sky seems to be the limit.
“I’m not waking up tomorrow morning/
And finding that there’s nobody there/
Darling, there’s no way.”

48

MISS VANJIE
It’s rare that the contestant who goes
home first on any given season of RuPaul’s
Drag Race gets to make a significant
impact among the fans. There are
exceptions, like Shangela Laquifa Wadley,
who went home first in Season 2 only
to come back two more times to snag
America’s hearts.
But one queen on season 10 took her 90
minutes of screen time and spun it into
Internet gold. Vanessa Vanjie Mateo,
the first queen to be eliminated last
season, made an impression on the fans
with her larger-than-life attitude and her
interactions in the workroom with the
other queens.
But it was after the queen found herself
sashaying away from the competition that
a meme was born. Walking backwards
down the runway and jooshing her hair,
Mateo exclaimed the now-iconic phrase
“Miss Vanjie” three times before finally
departing the competition. Her fabulous
exit sent the Internet into a tailspin,
constantly referencing and joking about
the moment until people who didn’t
watch Drag Race started questioning what
"Miss Vanjie” meant.
RuPaul even found himself unable
to contain his thoughts on the rising
cultural importance of the “Miss Vanjie”
phenomenon, taking to his Twitter
account multiple times throughout the
week to spread the gospel of “Miss
Vanjie.”
49

PULP FRICTION
Pulp Friction is a high-energy cover band
based out of Knoxville, TN. With a mix
of driving rock, R&B, modern top 40, and
everything in between, there is no genre
they won’t go.
Fronted by a drag performer and vocalist
Kady Robbins (a.k.a Geneva Convention)
and backed by a band of world-class
musicians, they bring a unique experience
to East Tennessee. Get ready to dance to
all your favorite songs with Pulp Friction!
BUFFALO FIASCO
This Knoxville-based bluegrass band got
its start the way many do: an ambitious
player gathers her talented friends to
make a record and the resulting creative
energy overflows from the studio session
onto the stage. That’s what happened
to fiddler Evie Andrus after she made a
double album under the banner of her
solo project Barefoot Sanctuary. Colluding
with cohorts Brad Hitch, Dave Rasnake
and Camryn Cornett, Andrus brings her
exuberant style to traditional bluegrass
favorites and originals alike.
ADEEM THE ARTIST
Adeem the Artist is an eclectic singersongwriter
based in Knoxville, TN. His
sound is informed by the vast vernacular
of folk, indie-pop and Americana; using
this palette, he creates a truly compelling
and personal narrative in the vein of
visionary artists the likes of The Mountain
Goats, Bright Eyes, and Johnny Cash.
Website: www.adeemtheartist.com
Social media:
@adeemtheartist (fbk, IG, Twitter)
50

“A QUALITY OF SONGWRITING,
STAGE PRESENCE AND
PERFORMANCE THAT FAR
EXCEED(S) THEIR YEARS”
- WAYNE BLEDSOE, GRAMMY-
NOMINATED MUSIC JOURNALIST
THE PINKLETS
It’s not at all uncommon for little girls to
harbor dreams of being Princesses or Pop
Divas. It’s almost to be expected, and it’s
usually just a phase, a childish flight of fancy,
all-too-soon replaced by the harsh light of “the
real world.”
For Roxie, Lucy, and Eliza Abernathy - known
collectively as The Pinklets - dreams are what
you do when you go to sleep. They just wanna
rock. It should come as no surprise that the
Knoxville, Tennessee sisters developed a love
for playing and performing. Their father, after
all, is highly-acclaimed songwriter/guitarist
Kevin Abernathy, so there was never a time
when their home wasn’t filled with music.
The elder Abernathy instilled in his daughters
that “performing isn’t perfect - that having
fun is the most important,” and both parents
resolved from the outset to neither overly
encourage nor discourage their daughters - to
let their musical ambitions be their own, and
to let the love of playing be their guide.
And guide them it did. Roxie, the eldest, took
the lead, learning to play piano. She was
closely followed by Lucy (now 16), who picked
up the guitar and - also like her Dad - started
writing songs. Youngest sister Eliza (now
14) was all of four when she started playing
the drums, and by the time she’d reached
elementary school, they were playing shows. It
only seemed natural.
After bringing down the house at the
Waynestock Music Festival in Knoxville in
2016, the band was invited to play that year’s
Bonnaroo , sealing their fate as a trio. In 2017,
they released their self-titled debut. Produced
by John Baker and Gray Comer, the CD is a
collection of “crafted songs that sound light
years beyond the typical teen dreck that’s
pumped out by former Disney stars.”
As they’ve learned all too well from their
father, the music business can be brutal.
Success isn’t guaranteed, no matter what your
lineage, and requires not only hard work, but
confidence in yourself and your band mates.
The Pinklets have proven they have the talent,
the work ethic, and the confidence. It’ll be fun
- and entertaining - to see how far they take it.
51
In 2019, The Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus will
be taking the stage at the Bijou on May 18th-
“Make Your Own Kind of Music” at 3 pm and
7 pm, October 11th- National Coming Out Day
Concert “I Sing Out” at 7:30 pm, and December
14th- “Naughty or Nice” at 3 pm and 7 pm .
KGMC’s Mission Statement: Use our voices,
strengths, and individual gifts to create
enriching musical experiences; promote
inclusion, equality, and empathy; end hostility
toward minority populations; and better our
world through community partnerships.
KGMC’s Vision Statement: We envision a world
free of discrimination in which all persons are
empowered to live authentic lives true to their
identities, without fear.
More information on the Knoxville Gay Men’s
Chorus can be found at www.knoxgmc.org.

We’ve provided cultural enrichment to East
Tennessee since 1978 and every year keeps
getting better! This season we are bringing
you Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, Bizet’s
Carmen, and Verdi’s Il Trovatore.
For an unforgettable experience, there’s nothing
like opera. It’s the ultimate culmination of the
best of all of the arts. Experience the drama and
comedy of theatre, the beauty of visual art, the
impressive sound of the Knoxville Symphony
Orchestra and the absolute magnificence of the
human voice! Opera is for everyone – it reflects
timeless and universal human conflicts, humor
and passions. There’s just nothing like it!
Destroy Your Assumptions – Most people have
preconceived notions about what an operatic
experience entails. Does any of this sound
familiar?
“Opera is only for rich people.”
– Tickets to Knoxville Opera performances start
at just $13. Yes, premiere seats at the front of the
house may cost you a week’s worth of groceries.
But if you’re willing to sacrifice your fantastic
view of the performers’ feet, cost-effective seats
(especially for students) are available.
“Opera puts you to sleep.”
– Are you bored by murder, betrayal, lust,
extravagance, the supernatural or madness? It’s
really exciting and a matter of choosing the right
operas that won’t have you nodding off and
drooling all of those velvet seats. Besides, the
Tennessee Theatre has a full bar!
“Opera is a dead art form, so why go?”
– The fastest-growing opera audience in the U.S.
now is people in their 20s and 30s and today’s
composers are experimenting with opera to find
new ways of keeping the art form alive.
LEANNA EDEN
LeAnna Eden is a songwriter from Milwaukee,
WI, based in Charlotte, NC. She has played
venues all over the Midwest, Northeast,
and Southeast. Since moving to Charlotte in
2013, she has founded and curated one of
the South’s only festivals of it’s kind, BLA/ALT
Festival: A Black Alternative Music Festival.
Some other highlights include opening for
Emily King, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears,
Dorothy, and THEESatisfaction at the Cactus
Club and Milwaukee Pride 2012-13. She has
also played Black Dot Music Festival in Chicago
and Rivers of Honey in NYC.
“LIFE. EXPERIENCE. EMOTION, IN
ALL OF ITS COLORS. IT’S ALL THERE
IN LEANNA EDEN’S MUSIC.”
“EDEN IS A SINGER SONGWRITER
WITH A POWERFUL
VOICE, COGENT MESSAGES, AND A
GENUINELY SINGULAR SOUND.”
52

“WE ARE HONORED TO
BE PART OF KNOXVILLE
PRIDEFEST. AS MANY OF OUR
MEMBERS HAVE STRUGGLED
WITH THEIR QUEER
IDENTITIES FOR MANY YEARS,
IT BRINGS US ALL SO MUCH
JOY TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS
CELEBRATION OF PRIDE AND
ACCEPTANCE. WE HONESTLY
CAN’T EXPRESS HOW MUCH
IT MEANS TO US TO BE ABLE
TO REPRESENT OURSELVES,
OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR
STYLE OF MUSIC THIS YEAR
AT KNOX PRIDE.”
DECONBRIO
Deconbrio is an Industrial Rock band
based in Knoxville, TN. Dubbing their
style of music as “Aural Sex”, the sound
of Deconbrio combines elements of
Industrial, Metal, and EBM to create a
delicious sound that grabs the listeners’
attention and refuses to let go.
Beginning as a solo project for singer,
frontman, and devilish ringmaster Danny
Rendo; Deconbrio has evolved into a
superstar project that crosses over all
media fronts — acquiring talents from all
of Knoxville’s creative scenes. The lineup
currently consists of Rendo’s now wife
all around “diva divine” Ashley Fantastic;
local comic, podcast personality, and onagain-off-again
anti-hero Wolfegang Grey
(aka Sam Donnelly); everyone’s favorite
local “boylesque” personality and goth DJ
Peppy Schlongstocking/Dappr-K (aka Kevin
Humler); and potentially immortal elf and
stealer of hearts Christina Kanoa.
Deconbrio has shared the stage with
many national acts; and received much
acclaim in the local scene over their
short time here; they were included on
several “Best Of” lists, and winning the
first Knoxville Competitive Music Video
Awards. Last year, Deconbrio released its
5th studio endeavor; a re-imagining of
their debut album “Obsessions of a False
Idol”.
53

05.16.2019
BUT I AM A CHEERLEADER
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Evening
05.22.2019
HARVEY MILK DOCUMENTARY
Wednesday Evening
Presents...
06.06.2019
STONEWALL DOCUMENTARY
Thursday Evening • Time is TBD • Free to the Public
06.30.2019
BRUNCH & A MOVIE
50th Anniversary of Stonewall Event
A
EVENT
Follow us!
@knoxpridefest
1205 N. CENTRAL ST
CENTRALCINEMA865.COM
54

55

56

WE
NEED
YOU
TO
VOLUNTEER
57
Join Us Today, Visit KnoxPride.com and Click The Volunteer Button

Knoxville Area Transit offers convenient Saturday service into
downtown. To plan your trip to the Knox Pride Festival, visit katbus.
com and click on the Google Trip Planner button, or call 865-637-
3000 and KAT's Customer Support will assist you. Knoxville Station
is a short walk to the parade route and to the Civic Coliseum festival
lawn!
58

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH PRIDEFEST THIS YEAR!
Thanks to the strong
LGBTQ+ community, our
allies, and the hard work of
Knox Pride to bring PrideFest
to Mary Costa Plaza
and Performance Lawn
(Knoxville Coliseum Lawn).
This location allows us bring
you even more sponsors,
new opportunities, and
greater diversity in vendors
and entertainment.
Libations
As in previous years, water & soft
drinks are available for purchase from
food vendors. Knox Pride will be the
sole provider of alcohol. If you wish
to drink you must show a valid id and
purchase a $1 wristband and drink
tickets. We take cash or credit for
ticket sales. Buy a VIP pass & treat
yourself to the tented VIP area for free
food, an open bar, A/C & get up close
with the entertainers.
The “Red Tape”
You must be 21 to drink alcohol and
you can’t bring your own (no matter
how old you are). Sorry, it’s the law.
Entry into the park requires going
through a security checkpoint where
police will search all bags. Anyone
attempting to carry in outside alcohol,
weapons, or firearms will not be
permitted to enter. Coolers are not
permitted, however, small umbrellas
are allowed. Anyone caught giving a
minor alcohol will be removed from the
premises immediately.
Parking
For Pridefest the most convenient
parking garages will be next to the
coliseum for $5. There are several city
operated parking lots in the downtown
area that are free to park on weekends,
but we strongly suggest you check
the city online parking guides and
plan ahead. Also, checkout the KAT
schedule to help you get around
downtown.
Emergencies
Knox Pride will have uniformed
security and EMS available to handle
emergencies. Please follow all
instructions from festival staff and
security. In the event of extreme
weather, shelter is available in the
coliseum garage.
ADA
Knox Pride continues to try to make
the festival as ADA accessible as
possible. Handicap parking is located
in all three parking garages next to
the lawn, including ramps to get to the
festival grounds. The festival grounds
has concreted areas throughout but
please be aware that many parts of the
festival are on grass. If you are in need
of assistance, please feel free to speak
with any Staff Member. A golf cart
is available for transport across the
grounds, if needed.
59
WWW.COMEGETMARRIED.COM

Pridefest Day
Parking in the Coliseum garages is $5.
The festival entrances are in orange.
KNOX PRIDEFEST 2019
SIGNATURE COCKTAIL
STONEWALL PUNCH
Includes: 360 Pineapple Vodka, 360 Mango
Vodka, Finest Cal Blue Curacao, Sierra Mist
60

Knox Pride Board
Jennifer Green
President
A Florida native, Jen relocated to Knoxville in 2015 to join Mortgage Investors Group.
While attending the University of South Florida to obtain her B.A in Music, she was actively
involved and lead their PRIDE Alliance. During her tenure at Bank of America, Jen attended
several Out & Equal conferences and chaired the Tampa Bay region PRIDE ERG. In addition,
she was also a member of Out & Equal Tampa Bay as a representative for Bank of America
as well as a certified trainer. Jen also is a member of the Knoxville Choral Society and
previously volunteered with the Knoxville based Friends of Literacy program.
Sarah Michelle Miller
Vice President, Pridefest Chair
Sarah Michelle Miller is originally from the cold state of Wisconsin but moved here in 2011.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of Tennessee-
Whitewater, she now works for the Department of Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities for the State of Tennessee. Though she was raised in WI, she has never felt so
at home than she does in her home of Knoxville Tennessee. Here she met her husband of
a little over a year, Josh, and they now own a home together and raise two adorable (and
spoiled) pups, Ella Ray and Mulligan Theodore. She has experience in leading multiple
nonprofit and community service organizations, event and party planning, and catering and
looks forward to using her expertise as a strong ally, assisting every way she can to help
Pride continue to grow.
Victoria Scott
Vice President, Beverage Chair
Always remember those that have come before us and
honor their sacrifice by living your life to the fullest!
Happy Pride!
Victoria has been a member of the Knox Pride Board for 5 years and very much enjoys
serving the Knoxville LGBTQ+ community. Having been born into a military family, she
moved a few times before settling in Kingsport, TN for the majority of her childhood. She
came to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee in 2003 and graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in the field of Political Science. She has been employed by PepsiCo
for 8 years and is currently a Production Supervisor. She enjoys spending time with her
friends and family and traveling to new and exciting places. Her hobbies include listening to
music of all varieties, drinking craft cocktails and beers, and trying all manner of delicious
foods. She also appreciates the outdoors and likes to spend time in the beautiful mountains
through camping, hiking, kayaking and whitewater rafting. She is looking forward helping
grow Knox Pride’s events and community involvement year round!
Rusty Graham
Treasurer
Originally from Monroe, North Carolina, Rusty served two years in AmeriCorps in 2011 and
2012, where he developed a passion for community building and service. In November
2013, he moved to Knoxville, and spent two more years serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA
member, continuing to develop a passion for service and activism. Knox Pride was the first
organization that he volunteered for in Knoxville. He currently works as the administrator
for Tyson House Student Foundation, the Lutheran and Episcopal campus ministry at the
University of Tennessee Knoxville. In his spare time, Rusty is a huge video game nerd, loves
anything outdoors, especially running, reads a lot, and spends a lot of time with his cat, Max.
61

Stephanie Scates
Secretary
As a born and raised Knoxville native, Stephanie is accustom to all that Knox Vegas has to
offer. As a manger in a retail pharmaceutical company she is used to providing care and
empathy to those she meets. As a new member of the pride board she is excited to be a part
of the vast diversity and unity that pride offers. In combination with others on the board she
hopes to bring her warm-hearted and welcoming attitude to all the fantastic pride events to
come!
Mark Church-Janes
Board Member, Bourbon & Whiskey Chair, Pridefest Parade Co-Coordinator, Dine Out Co-Chair
Mark is originally from a small town outside Louisville, KY. He attended the University of
Louisville, served in the US Army and the Kentucky National Guard. Mark transplanted
to East TN in 1997 where he works as an on-premise sales representative for a liquor
wholesaler. Mark and his husband own an alcohol server training company, TopShelf
Express LLC, and Mark is Vice President and co owner of TopShelf EDU an on-line alcohol
training company. Mark has served on the Knox Pride Board for 10 years as a board
member and Vice -President. Mark enjoys spending time with his best friend and husband
of 17yrs Ashley,with friends, family and traveling. I would like to thanks all the Knox Pride
board members, sponsors and volunteers for making Knox Pridefest a great and continued
success.
Heather Quinsey
Board Member, Volunteer Committee Chair
Heather immigrated to Knoxville from Canada 5 years ago and has felt at home here since
day one. Heather is an artist, a maker, and is the founder and curator of the Knox Mini Art
Galleries. Heather is an aerialist and performs on the trapeze with Knoxville Aerial Arts.
In her spare time, you can usually find her making soup, folding paper cranes, or binging
sitcoms on the couch with her wife.
Morgan Thompson
Board Member, Art Out Chair, & Marketing Chair
Morgan is a Knoxville native who is thrilled to be serving her third year for the Knox Pride
Board. She grew up in South Knoxville and graduated from the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. She is currently a Staff Accountant for TLD
Logistics Services, Inc.
After being a volunteer for PrideFest in 2016, she decided she wanted to become a more
active member in the community. This is her third year serving as Art Out Chair and first year
as Marketing Chair. She is excited to be providing a lot of new ideas for Marketing, including
video production, so if you see her with her camera in hand, wave because you are probably
being filmed! She hopes her service will help Knox Pride and the LGBTQ+ community
continue to grow.
62

Knox Pride Board
Adam Christopher
Board Member
Adam is a native of Knoxville and grew up in the Karns community where he graduated in
2005. He joined the Knox Pride Board in 2016 after having been a volunteer for several years
assisting with a multitude of events and fundraisers. Adam loves all things technology and has
worked for Apple for 5 years where he plans to run the company and retire! Currently, Adam
is the Executive Producer of the Next2Nothing Fashion Show, a long running fundraiser for
KnoxPride. He is excited for what KnoxPride is becoming and hopes to spread our community
involvement throughout the southeast!
Kerissa King
Board Member, Entertainment Coordinator
Kerissa (Keri) King is a seventh generation East Tennesseean; born in Knoxville
raised in neighboring Sevier County. She is an alumnus if the University of Tennessee,
where she studied Music Education and Vocal Performance. While she has focused
on a more traditional career as a project manager, her love of the arts has sustained
her. She has managed to combine her business skills and performance arts talents
to create several fringe arts ventures including Salomé Cabaret Burlesque Revue,
the Salomé Cabaret Burlesque Academy, The Smoky Mountain Burlesque Festival,
and Clam Slam Drag Collective. In 2018 she combined forces with her producing
partners Dustin and John Camp to create Camp King Productions, specializing in
LGBT+ and alternative subculture entertainment.
Oren Yarbrough
Board Member, Graphic Design Chair
Born and raised in middle Tennessee, Oren first moved to Knoxville in 2006 to attend
school at the University of Tennessee. While at school Oren met his partner, Mark Marlow,
and they have been together for 12 years and were married in 2017. Oren is a licensed
architect, amateur historian, and political nerd that loves to meet new people and hold long
conversations. When he is not travelling, Oren can likely be found hanging out with friends at
one of downtown's many restaurants, rooftops, or bars.
Fun Fact: Oren has a twin sister named Casey.
John Camp
Board Member, Special Event Coordinator
John Camp hails from Gatlinburg, but now lives in Norris with his amazing husband and
their even more amazing 4 children. With his 12 years experience in corporate management
and event planning, he has always felt at home in the Knoxville art scene. He is an
advocate for body positivity and a leader in community development. As a stage manager
extraordinaire, he co-produces Salome Cabaret and is co-producer and co-founder of the
Smoky Mountain Burlesque Festival and Bear It All Burlesque. He is the President of Knox
Fringe, and alongside Dustin Camp & Keri King, he is also developing LGBTQ programming
for the Bijou Theater through Camp King Entertainment.
63

Nathan Higdon
Board Member, Community Outreach Chair
Nathan was born in Maryville, TN. He has lived in the area for most of his life. He is an
avid outdoorsman, progressive politics, hobby mechanic, hiker, and yoga fan. He is a serial
entrepreneur who founded L'Espace, Inc., which has become a diverse conglomerate. He
earned a degree in Spanish at Maryville College, an MBA at The Pennsylvania State University,
and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. He is a researcher and speaker on LGBTQ
discrimination, behavior, and code-switching in the workplace.
Josh Harris
Board Member, Dine Out Co-Chair, Adventures with Pride Chair, Pride Picnic Chair
Having grown up in the small town of Spring City, TN, Josh Harris made Knoxville his home in
2017. He was a volunteer for the 2017 and 2018 Knox Pride Fests, as well as helping out with
other Knox Pride events. This will be his first year of service on the board and he looks forward
to lending a hand to helping the LGBTQ+ community.
Willis Prewitt
Board Member, Merchandiser
Originally from Louisiana, Willis has lived in Knoxville for 16 years. While living here, he has
been involved with the Knoxville Gay Softball League, serving as their Parliamentarian for 3
years. He is an avid traveler, always looking for a new adventure. During his down time, he
enjoys cooking, video games, and finding new and unknown music.
Committee Members:
Nick D'Alessandro
Volunteer, Graphic Design Committee,
Marketing Committee
Maddie Wright
Volunteer, Graphic Design Committee,
Marketing Committee
Sandy Huneycutt
Volunteer, Pride Picnic Committee
Christopher Brewer
Volunteer, Graphic Design Committee
Dustin Camp
Volunteer
Christina Hutsell
Volunteer, Art Out Committee
Maggie Cole
Volunteer
Roxanne Dudrick
Volunteer
Jennell Pershing
Volunteer
Victoria Throop
Volunteer
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Knoxville's Longest Running Pride Event
72

KNOX PRIDE HERITAGE
REMEMBERING KNOXVILLE'S LOST LGBTQ PLACES OF GATHERING
Parts of this story have been previously published on the blog Inside of Knoxville
Written By Oren Yarbrough & Edited by Maggie Cole
There is no doubt that gay and lesbian
bars have held an important place in the
history of the LBGTQ community. These
spaces have been safe havens where
members of the community could feel
welcomed and accepted. We gathered
to celebrate and find friends and lovers,
and build networks of support. Even the
LGBTQ rights movement was born from a
gay bar, the historic Stonewall Inn in New
York.
Today, if you were to walk up to someone
on the street here in Knoxville and ask
them where the nearest gay bar is they
may only be able to name one or two
different options, like Club XYZ or Edge
Knoxville. Sadly, many gay and lesbian
bars across the country have closed
their doors, and this is certainly true in
Knoxville. Knoxville has an incredible
history of gay and lesbian bars, though
the history is in danger of fading. So in
order to preserve that history we at Knox
Pride have begun to create a compendium
of Knoxville gay bars. Using posters that
were constructed for Knoxville Pride
Heritage events a number of years ago,
sifting through decades of Metro Pulse
and small print gay media articles, and
interviewing local members of the LGBTQ
community, we have done our best to
begin to honor this important part of our
local history. Each person interviewed
provided a small bit more detail than
the person before. We hope to continue
talking with people in the hopes of adding
to this material in the future. Some of
you reading this may have your own fond
memories of some of the bars mentioned.
If you have a positive story to share,
please don’t hesitate to write us.
Here goes nothing!
The Back Office – The Back Office was
located off of Main Street and operated in
the 1970s until the building was sold and
demolished for the current City-County
Building. For the Knoxville gay community,
the Back Office was one of first large scale
nightclubs that they could patronize for
dancing and socializing.
Badlands Club/ Peppertree – Badlands
Club opened during the Knoxville World’s
Fair. Located across the street from the
former Regas Restaurant, Badlands Club
operated for a short time before closing
down and reopening as The Peppertree.
The Peppertree closed down in the
late 1980s when the owners of the bar
decided opened a new concept in West
Knoxville called Sensations.
Carousel/End Zone/Upstage 54’/
Carousel 2 – Carousel is perhaps the
most famous bar on this list that is not
currently in business. Running continually
as Carousel 2 since the early 1980s,
this gay bar was considered one of the
oldest in the city’s history. This building
first started to function as two separate
bars in the late 1960s with Carousel (the
original) in the lower level and End Zone
in the upper level. In the 1970s Carousel
expanded into a neighboring laundromat
to take up the entire lower level of the
building. In the early 1980s End Zone,
the upstairs show bar, and Carousel were
combined to form a new place called
Upstage 54’, which was shortly after
renamed Carousel 2.
The Carousel was an institution in the gay
community for decades. If you were a gay
man or a friendly ally living in Knoxville
the last 30 years then there is a very good
chance you saw at least one drag show in
the upstairs show bar. The building had
a dedicated dance floor and a dedicated
area to watch drag shows, something
that is still difficult to find in gay bars in
major cities even today. The separate
spaces allowed people to “choose your
own adventure” with their night at the
Carousel. Beer bust was legendary, along
with the hangovers they produced.
Patrons paid only $7 dollars for a cup and
wrist band to have unlimited beer for a set
amount of time. The sunken dance floor,
constructed in the 1980s expansion, was
designed to light up in the era of disco,
but was no longer being lit by the time
I walked through the doors in the mid
2000s.
Sadly, Carousel suffered a similar fate as
many other landmarks in the Fort Sanders
neighborhood; being purchased for
development in 2013. After the purchase,
the lease was not renewed and Carousel
2 hosted a “Farewell to 1501” show
with many generations of Knoxville drag
alumni in attendance. The club ceased
operations on New Year’s Day in 2014.
Over four years later the redevelopment
still sat stagnant with the building partially
demolished. The building has recently
gone on the market. Carousel 3, anyone?
Chrome Pony Saloon – The Chrome
Pony Saloon is the only bar on this list
on Alcoa Highway, located across the
street from National Fitness, close to UT
Hospital. The Chrome Pony operated for
a handful of years around the early 2010s.
Much like everything else in this area of
Alcoa Highway, the Chrome Pony suffered
from the continual road construction and
the decline of surrounding retail stores.
Today most of the strip mall it was located
in is vacant.
73

The Circle J – Located on Church
Street in the 1980s, Circle J was a
quieter place for gay people to meet
and talk. The Pride posters reference
this bar as a popular meeting place for
the Knoxville 10%, one of the first gay
political activist organizations in the city.
I found it particularly cute that the text
on the poster felt it was important to
mention that the bartender at Circle J
was very popular locally and he was from
Clarksville, TN (my hometown) before
moving to Knoxville.
City Limits/ Trumps – According to one
source, City Limits opened in 1988 in an
old German restaurant on the back side
of the Western Plaza Shopping Center.
Originally opened as a straight bar, City
Limits became very popular with local
gays and in the early 1990s changed
management and rebranded itself as
Trumps. Trumps was a bar that embraced
its established gay following with popular
drag shows and theme nights. Trumps
closed in the early 2000s and after a
handful of sports bars filled the old space
Western Plaza announced a massive
remodel of the shopping center, including
demolition of this portion of the complex.
The Colony/Friends – The Colony
was located at the corner of Union
Avenue and South Central Street and
operated through the 1970s and into the
early 1980s. After The Back Office was
demolished for the City-County Building,
Colony became one of the more popular
gay bars in Knoxville for a number of
years. After Carousel 2 opened up in the
Fort Sanders Neighborhood, Colony’s
business suffered and it closed down,
rebranded, and remodeled the bar to
become Friends. The reboot as Friends
didn’t prove successful and the bar closed.
Today Colony is the site of the power substation
beside the State Street Garage.
Decadence/Bourbon Street – Located
off Kingston Pike on Carr Street, Bourbon
Street was a nice and large dance bar that
operated in the late 2000s for a couple of
years and was initially popular with the
local gay community. Bourbon Street also
hosted a nice outdoor area and served
a good brunch on Sundays. The bar’s
business eventually suffered due to having
to compete with Rainbow Club, Carousel,
and XYZ; all bars with a specific niche
market and a thriving drag show. Today
the building is Marelli’s Italian Restaurant.
Electric Ballroom – The Electric Ballroom
was a large warehouse that housed a
massive dance club in the 1990s. The
young crowd and dance environment
made this otherwise straight bar a gay
friendly establishment to go dancing with
friends, especially on gay themed nights.
Electric Ballroom, currently called The
International, has recently announced that
it will be closing soon.
Europa – Europa was a popular bar that
operated through the 1970s on the same
block as Huddle, hosting drag shows and
dancing. A patron I spoke with said that
this bar was one of the first places in
Knoxville where you found straight people
going to gay bars for the novelty of the
space and environment. The bar was
found on the back side of an old building
that sat at the 800 Block of Gay Street.
The owner was a well-known Knoxville
hair dresser named Joseph Weir. People
I spoke with about Europa said it was
one of the better gay bars of its era and
that Weir would always sit up at the front
of the bar and “hold court” by telling
stories and gossiping about the goings on
within the surrounding community. In the
years leading up to the World’s Fair Weir
publicly fought back the cities attempts
to move out gay establishments from
downtown in an effort to “clean up” the
city for visitors. Tragically, Europa was
shut down at the end of 1981 following
the murder of Joseph Weir. The murder is
a cold case that still hasn’t been solved to
this day. Riverview Tower now sits on the
spot that Europa once stood.
The Factory – The Factory was located
at the intersection of Dale Ave and 17th
Street and operated in the late 1970s
and early 1980s. Located at the back end
of Fort Sanders, The Factory was a large
and gritty dance club in an old warehouse
and was rumored to have mafia ties.
After the Europa bar closed down The
Factory, along with Colony, became one
of the most popular bars in the city for a
short while. Eventually Carousel 2 would
open just a few blocks to the South. The
more central location and more modern
interiors were something The Factory
could not compete with. While the two
bars operated at the same time one
person I interviewed said it was common
to walk between the two on a given night,
depending on the crowd at one bar or
the other. Eventually the bar closed down
and sat vacant for many years until it was
demolished and became a soccer pitch.
The Hideaway – According to one
source, The Hideaway was first located off
an alley on Gay Street near the presentday
AT&T Building. The bar operated in
the late 1960s and early 1970s, eventually
moving to a building on the 200 Block of
Gay Street. It was torn down during the
expansion of Summitt Hill Drive. Reading
one source’s personal account, Hideaway
operated during the day as a lounge and
pool hall space and at night would host
some of the earliest drag shows in the
city’s history.
74

75
Huddle – While not a bar that younger
generations of Knoxvillians will easily
remember, Huddle is a significant
establishment to the city’s LGBTQ history.
Huddle was located in the basement
of the Cook Building at the corner of
Cumberland Avenue and Gay Street and it
began operations sometime in the 1940s.
In Cormac McCarthy’s novel Suttree he
describes Huddle as a “cool and dark” dive
bar where people “of dubious gender”
could be found. Huddle operated under
the radar in downtown Knoxville during
an era when gay bars were illegal and for
many decades you could find a sign beside
the entry that proudly read “gayest spot
in town." In later years the bar was more
popular with drag queens, lesbians, and
the occasional prostitute; never being a
place to pass judgement. People I spoke
with said that Huddle was a popular
place to go for a cheap drink before going
to nearby bars like Europa or Colony.
Huddle closed in 1981 and the space now
occupies a private event space that can be
rented.
Kandy Knox – Kandy Knox is the only
legitimate gay bar to be located on
Chapman Highway that makes this list.
Kandy Knox operated in the early 2010s as
a drag and male go-go bar with a variety
of theme nights, shows, and karaoke. The
retail complex that housed Kandy Knox
had also had a handful of other bars that
in previous years had been raided by the
police and shut down due to ongoing
violence. Kandy Knox couldn’t seem to
shake the vibe left by the previous tenants
and today is the location of a La Bamba, a
Mexican seafood bar.
Kurt’s/Exile/Kristopher’s – Kurt’s
was located in a retail complex off
Homberg Place in Bearden. The bar was
a mixed men and women’s bar that had
pool tables, darts, and a nice outdoor
area. Kurt’s was open for a number of
years until the early 2010s when it was
rebranded as Club Exile, which still had a
mixed gay crowd but also began to add
regular drag shows with some nights
being more marketed to gay men. Club
Exile did not last particularly long and
was eventually closed down, remodeled,
and then reopened as Kristopher’s.
Kristopher’s was a women’s bar that was
very welcoming to everyone and hosted
everything from drag shows and standup
comedy to small concerts and karaoke
contests. Kris, the owner, would even host
trivia nights and hold charity events in the
bar for local organizations like KGMC and
Knox Pridefest. Kristopher’s always had
the best local beer selection and the food
was amazing. Unfortunately, Kristopher’s
had to recently close their doors due to
an issue with their lease. I really enjoyed
Kristopher’s and would gladly patron any
future bar these women decide to open.
Lord Lindsey/ Six Fifteen – Lord Lindsey
was a historic-home-turned-church
that was renovated by locally famous
preservationist Kristopher Kendrick
in the 1970s as an event space and
restaurant. Lord Lindsey started hosting
weekly dinners and parties that became
quite popular in Knoxville, eventually
transitioning into a dance club in the
latter half of the week. After bars like
Back Office, Colony, and Europa were
shut down Lord Lindsey was one of the
only places in downtown Knoxville to go
dancing on a weekend. The crowd on
a typical weekend was mixed gay and
straight, but always friendly. For the
last 20 years Lord Lindsey was open the
building also hosted a pseudo-Tea Dance
on Sundays called Six Fifteen. The event
was named after the address of the bar,
615 Hill Avenue, and also after the time
the festivities began. Gays that remember
Six Fifteen in particular told me that this
event was a more subdued party with
a mixed crowd that allowed for older
generations of gays and those not into
the party scene to enjoy the company of
fellow gay men in a social setting.
Lord Lindsey stopped hosting dance nights
and catered events in the early 2000s.
After Kristopher Kendrick passed away in
2009 his estate put the building on the
market and, despite being purchased a
number of years ago, has sat vacant since
then.
Masquers’ – This small bar operated in
the atrium space of the former Andrew
Johnson Hotel in the 1970s. It is unclear
whether this was an exclusively LGBT
bar or if it was one of a handful of bars
throughout the city that were open
minded and friendly to the local gay
community.
The Point After – The Point After was
a women’s bar that operated North of
Cumberland Avenue off of 19th street.
One person I interviewed described
The Point After as a welcoming bar to
all people, as long as you were kind in
return. I was told that the owner of this
bar was a very no-nonsense woman who
was not afraid to chase drunken frat boys
down the street if they started to get
inappropriate with the bar patrons. The
Point After operated in from the 1970s
until the late 1980s when the property
was sold for the construction of a bank
that still stands there today.
Rainbow Club/The New Rainbow Club
West– The Rainbow Club was originally
located in the Old City off of South Central
Street and was two buildings brought
together to provide a lounge area and a
dedicated drag performance area. While
I can’t find what decade Rainbow Club
began operations, I know that the bar
ran through most of the 1990s until the
owners decided to move to West Knoxville
in the former location of Sensations off
of Kingston Pike. The second incarnation
of the Rainbow Club operated through
the early 2000s. The New Rainbow Club
West operated recently enough that many
people will probably remember seeing a
fabulous drag show here or dancing on

the dance floor between shows. This was the
first gay bar I ever went to in my life.
Sensations – From what I can gather, the
owners of Peppertree closed down that bar in
the late 1980s and moved to West Knoxville
to open Sensations off of Kingston Pike near
West Town Mall. Sensations operated for a
few years before it was damaged by a fire and
had to close.
Traditions – Traditions is one of the only
gay bars on this list to be located in Market
Square. Located at 16 Market Square,
Traditions operated as a women’s bar but was
welcoming to all people and was in business
in the late 1980s. Today, this is where you can
enjoy a nice pasta at Emilia’s.
The Zodiac – The Zodiac operated in the
upstairs portion of a house located at the
intersection of 13th and White Avenue.
Amazingly, this building has survived the
expansion of UT into this portion of Fort
Sanders and you can go see it today. The
Zodiac was described as “clandestine” and
operated mostly by word of mouth through
the 1970s.
A second Zodiac bar was opened in the early
1980s off of Western Avenue on Pleasant
Ridge and operated for a handful of years
before it was burned down. According to
former Pride posters the bar was burned
down by angry neighbors that wanted the bar
gone. Today the site is a field located behind
Kopy Kat Printing and across the street from
Redemption Church.
All of these bars played an active role in the
Knoxville LGBTQ community, and the Knox
Pride Committee felt it was important to
take a moment and shine a spotlight on them
during our celebration this month.
Disclaimer: This article was written by
an amautuer history enthusiast that also
happens to be a Millennial. If you find
anything in this series needs to be revised or
updated please reach out to the Knox Pride
Committee and share with us how the work
can be revised or made better. It is the goal
of the Knox Pride Committee to eventually
gather enough historical information from
the community to be able to add a history
section to the Knox Pride website.
Happy Pride, Everyone!
76

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Did you know that the Rainbow Flag was originally designed by LGBT
activist Gilbert Baker in 1978 and was first flown at the San Francisco
Gay Freedom Day Parade? The original Rainbow Flag was designed with
8 colors, each chosen based on a specific meaning they signified.
78

Hey all,
I moved to Knoxville from Louisiana
5 years ago and started working with
Knox Pride however I could. I have
lived in the south my whole life, and
love everything our Knox Pride does
for our community. So much so that
I started Keep Knox Queer with my
best friend Katy Ross, to further
extend our pride throughout the year,
and make it known that Knoxville is
Queer!
Our goal with keep Knox queer is to
say we're here, we're queer and we're
not going anywhere. I can not say
enough how important community is
to developing personal growth and a
bond with a place.
That being said, I donate all my time to these two amazing groups, but I
also run my own business. I am a photographer around Knoxville. I love
giving our Queer community access to affordable photos. I make the
sessions fun, and try to make them about you, and not about what I like.
I love doing what I do, and I hope I get to photograph all of you sometime
soon! See you at Pride!
79
Love,
Taryn Ferro
https://awsnap.photography
awsnapphotog@gmail.com

A PICTURE
IS WORTH A
THOUSAND
WELCOMES
www.VisitKnoxville.com/Pride
INGENUITY
INCLUDES EVERYONE.
Individually, we are extraordinary. Together, we are a work of art.
See all the ways we are Redefining Ingenuity ® at saic.com/diversity.
20-0218| SAIC COMMUNICATIONS
© SAIC. All rights reserved.
80

DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
SATURDAY
JUNE 29th | ALL DAY!
81

82

join us
06.22.19
Upcoming Events
July 13
Summer Craft Market
What is Pagan Pride of East Tennessee?
Pagan Pride of East Tennessee is the local chapter of the international Pagan Pride
Project. It is our goal to help further the fundamental tenets of the Pagan Pride
Project.
Our Mission
It is the mission of Pagan Pride of East Tennessee to promote the advancement
of religious diversity, to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based on spiritual
beliefs, and to foster pride in pagan identity through education, activism, charity,
and community.
Why Support the Pagan Pride Project?
Approximately 7,000 Tennesseans openly identify as pagan. Given that many do not
feel comfortable disclosing their status, that number is likely much higher. If you are
a Pagan, the project can help you find pride and confidence in your path. If you are
not a Pagan, the project can help you understand your Pagan friends, coworkers,
and family members.
Pagan Pride of East Tennessee is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization and
proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.
August 3
September 14
October 26
December 7
Pagans in the Park: Lammas (open ritual)
Pagan Pride Day
Samhain Celebration & Open Ritual
Yule Craft Market
Monthly Meet & Greet - 2nd Friday of Each Month
6pm | Osaka Buffet & Grill | Chapman Hwy.
www.meetup.com/pagan-1024
www.paganprideofeasttn.org | facebook.com/PaganPrideofEastTn | info@paganprideofeasttn.org
83

84

HaPPY
PRIDE!
from
The Community of St Ninian
Join us for Fellowship! All Are Welcome!
The Community of St Ninian has been serving the LGBTQ
community since 1991. We help LGBTQ persons become
independent in stable housing by providing financial
assistance with rent, deposits, and utilities as appropriate.
Learn more about us by visiting www.saintninianswell.org
or www.facebook.com/communityofstninian
E-Mail: communityofstninian@gmail.com
Jan: 248-894-7102
Rick: 865-567-6953
85

86

87

Small Plates. Big Tastes.
Good Times.
bistro
We support
Knoxville’s Favorite
Gathering Place
■ Small plates & entrées
■ Weekday Social Hour
■ Global wines by the glass,
flight, or bottle
VOTED TOP 10 BEST WINE BARS BAR IN IN TENNESSEE!
better vision for
Small Plate
Good
Small Plates. Big tastes. Good Times.
2017
Small Plates. Big Tastes.
Good Times.
Knoxville’s Favorite
Gathering Place
■ Small plates & entrées
■ Weekday Social Hour
bistro
■ Global wines
bistro
by the glass,
Locations in Knoxville, Fountain City, Farragut, Maryville, Sevierville, and Hardin Valley.
flight, or bottle
VOTED TOP 10 BEST WINE BARS IN TENNESSEE!
VOTED TOP 10 BEST
K
G
■
■
■
DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
SUNDAY
JUNE 23RD | 10AM-2PM
2017
141 S. Gay Street • 865-544-1491
11383 Parkside Drive • 865-671-6612
crubistroandwinebar.com
88

DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
SUNDAY
AUGUST 11TH | ALL DAY
JOIN US FOR DINE OUT WITH
PRIDE ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019
11AM - 3PM
89

OFFICIAL
BEVERAGE
SPONSOR
DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
TUESDAY
JULY 7TH | ALL DAY
INVITES YOU TO DINE WITH US DURING PRIDE WEEK
invites you to dine AND with
us
EVERY OTHER WEEK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
MARKET SQUARE
during Pride Week
12 MARKET SQUARE
KNOXVILLE, TN 37902
T 865-637-4067
and every other week
THE GALLERY
7240 KINGSTON PIKE #172
KNOXVILLE, TN 37919
T 865-584-1075
90

Smokey Mountain Hike
August 10 TH , 2019 1 - 5 PM
Pride has started community events. Come join the
community for a Smokies Hike. We have a wonderful Ranger
that will be our guide from Great Smoky Mountains National
Parks. Trail is Old Sugarlands Trail
We will be there at 1pm. We will meet out front of the trail.
Please wear a blue shirt so we can all find each other.
Great Smoky Mountain National Parks are getting more
involved with the LGBTQ+ community and have some
T-shirts to show their pride for the community and nature
lovers.
"Pride Outside" clothing items! Purchases support outdoor
diversity efforts!
Check Facebook event for updates.
TAKE AN ADVENTURE WITH KNOX PRIDE
After the Adventures with Knox Pride
Hike come Dine Out with us
DINE OUT
WITH PRIDE
SATURDAY
AUG 10TH | 5 - 11PM
Hard Rock Pride shirts at Cafe and Knox PrideFest
91
865-430-7625
2050 Parkway, Pigeon
Forge, TN 37863

SAVE THE DATE
KNOX PRIDE'S
FRIGHTFEST
OCTOBER 19TH
AT THE EDGE
$10 COVER
18+ TO ENTER, 21+ TO DRINK
C O S T U M E C O N T E S T
D O O R S O P E N A T 8 P M
ALL PROCEEDS KEEP KNOX PRIDEFEST FREE
92

93
OFFICIAL
BEVERAGE
SPONSOR

94

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: POST PRIDE
JULY
AUGUST
TUBING W/ PRIDE
Saturday, July 21 ST l 11 AM - 3 PM
Smokey Mountain River Rat
LGBT WEDDING EXPO
Sunday, August 4 TH l TBD
Southern Railway Station
SMOKIES HIKE
Saturday, August 11 TH l 1 - 5PM
Old Sugarlands Trail
HARD ROCK - DINE OUT
Saturday, August 11 TH l 1 - 5PM
Hard Rock Gatlinburg
WINE TASTING
Friday, August 16 TH l TBD
Southern Railway Station
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
FRIGHTFEST
Saturday, October 19 TH l 8 PM - 1 AM
The Edge
TACOS & TEQUILA
Friday, November 8 TH l TBD
Southern Railway Station
95
For a full list of events visit KnoxPride.com/Events
or our Facebook Page

TASTING
KNOX PRIDE’S
BOURBON &
WHISKEY
TASTING
WANTS TO THANK ALL
BOURBON & WHISKEY
SPONSORS
OF ITS SPONSORS
COME SEE AGAIN ON 02.07.2019!
Presented By
Presented By
96

FLAGS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE MANY FLAGS THAT SYMBOLIZE THE VARIOUS TRIBES THAT MAKE UP THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
ORIGINAL PRIDE FLAG - 1978 CURRENT PRIDE FLAG PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG
TRANSGENDER PRIDE FLAG STRAIGHT ALLY PRIDE FLAG BISEXUALPRIDE FLAG
RUBBER PRIDE POLYSEXUAL PRIDE FLAG LEATHER PRIDE FLAG
GENDERQUEER PRIDE FLAG
LABRYS LESBIAN PRIDE FLAG PANSEXUAL PRIDE FLAG
NON-BINARY PRIDE FLAG LABRYS LESBIAN PRIDE FLAG ASEXUAL PRIDE FLAG
97

Want To Be A Part Of The
Action With Knox Pride?
Join our Board or assist with one of our
many committees!
Opportunities include: Event Planning,
Volunteerism, Sponsor Recruitment,
Social Media Outreach, Community
Engagement, And many more!
Visit one of our monthly meetings, held
the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7pm*
or email us at info@knoxpride.com for
more information.
*Meeting location is posted online at KnoxPride.com and on FaceBook.
98

Group Resources
The Lesbian Social Group
The Lesbian Social Group of Knoxville
TN LSG is over 20 yrs old. We are just
casual community way to meet other
women. We offer activities such as
meeting, Women's Dances, Annual
Hikes, and Bike Rides. We also provide
resources and support.
Lesbiansocialgroup.com
info@lesbiansocialgroup.com
Facebook.com/LSGKnoxville
Southern Rainbows TN
Southern Rainbows is a group
originating from 16 yr old yahoo group.
The Tennessee group was started in
2014 by a small group of friends. We are
mainly women of various orientations.
Our activities foster friendship &
empowerment.
Facebook.com/SouthernRainbowsTN
Gyrlgroove
We support female artists, civic
organizations that provide support
services to women, and any organization
that seeks to enhance the strength of
womynhood in today's social, political
and economic environment.
Kathrine@gyrlgroove.com
Gyrlgroove.com
TN Car Craze Women’s Car Club
We love to talk about cars and the crazy
things Tennessean’s do to their car, we
go to car shows and plan activities.
PO Box 22081, Knoxville, TN 37933
Facebook.com/TNCarCraze
Lambda Car Club
Largest car club for gay men and
lesbians. A social group who shares the
love for all things cars and automotive.
lcccumberland.com
PFLAG Knoxville
PFLAG is the extended family of the
LGBTQ community. We're made up of
LGBTQ individuals, family members and
allies. Because together,we're stronger.
pflagknoxvillearea@gmail.com
pflag.org/chapter/pflag-knoxville
PFLAG Maryville
Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Maryville promotes the health and
well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBTQ+) people.
PFLAG's mission is to provide
opportunities for dialogue about sexual
orientation, gender identities and to
create a society that is healthy and
respectful of human diversity.
865.724.5511
Facebook.com/pflagmaryville
PFLAG Oak Ridge
PFLAG is the extended family of the
LGBTQ+ community. We're made up of
LGBTQ+ individuals, family members
and allies.
865.556.3099
Backusanne@comcast.net
pflag.org/chapter/pflag-oak-ridge
Prime Timers Knoxville
A friendly group for mature aged Gay and
Bi men, 30 years and up. Primetimers
is a worldwide organization with a
chapter located in Knoxville. Annual
membership fee.
P.O. Box 20903, Knoxville, TN 37940
239.322.7953
Primetimersknoxville@yahoo.com
Primetimersww.net/knoxville
Knoxville Gay Men's Discussion
Group
Over 25 yrs together. We meet each
Monday from 7:30pm to 9:00 pm at
TVUUC
2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN
gaygroupknoxville.org
facebook.comKnoxvilleGay
MensDiscussionGroup
Knoxville Gay Men's Chorus
A group of men joining voices to support
the gay community and to build bridges
between the LGBTQ+ community and
everyone else in East Tennessee.
info@knoxgmc.org
865.255.5623
Knoxgmc.org
Voices for Trans Youth Campaign
The mission of the Voices for Trans
Youth Campaign is to make Knox County
Schools safer and more supportive for
LGBTQ students. voicesfortransyouth@
gmail.com
Voicesfortransyouth.wixsite.com/
campaign
Knoxville Trangender Group
A place for socialization, support, and
camaraderie. Allies are welcome but
we are not a dating site. Find us on
Instagram, Meetup and Twitter!!!
instagram.com/
knoxvilletransgendergroup/
meetup.com/Knoxville-Transgender-
Meetup
twitter.com/KnoxTransGroup
facebook.com/KnoxvilleTransGroup/
Trans Empowerment Project-
National
Mission Standing up to social
injustice and ignorance by educating
and empowering our transgender
community.
865.935.9764
Transempowermentproject.com
Facebook.com/transempowerment
KnoxBoyz of East Tennessee
Helping make better men for today and
tomorrow A peer led support group for
Transmen aka FTMs (female-to-male
transgender/transsexual persons)
regardless of medical transition status,
in East Tennessee.
PO Box 27746
Knoxville, Tennessee 37927
Facebook.com/KnoxBoyz.of.East.
Tennessee
99

Knox Girlz of East Tennessee
A peer led support group for
Transwomen aka MTFs (male-tofemale
transgender / transsexuals)
regardless of medical transition status,
in East Tennessee.
PO Box 27746
Knoxville, Tennessee 37927
Facebook.com/KnoxGirlz.of.East.
Tennessee
SOFFAs of East Tennessee
Transgenders Mission keep families
together through education, every
transition is a step forward not
backward. Supporting friends, partners,
and family, of transgender locals in their
quests for mutual personal transition
success.
PO Box 27746
Knoxville, Tennessee 37927
Facebook.com/SOFFAs.of.eTN.TGs
All Out Knoxville
A platform for LGBT community
members and our allies in Knoxville
to connect, network, and support one
another.
alloutknox@gmail.com
alloutknox.com
Facebook.com/alloutknoxville
Night Life
Club XYZ
1215 N. Central Ave.
865.637.4XYZ
The Edge
7211 Kingston Pike
865.588.8030
Sports Groups
Knoxville Lightening
IWFL (Independent Women's Football
League) Knoxville Tennessee Women's
Tackle Football Team
338 Sunrise Dr Kingston, Tennessee
865.399.1325
knoxvillelightning@gmail.com
knoxvillelightning.com
K-Town Softball League
An organization dedicated to providing
East Tennessee's LGBTQ+ community
the opportunity to experience
recreational softball in a safe, fun, and
competitive environment.
sites.google.com/site/ktownsoftball/
Ktown Women's Softball League
We provide East Tennessee’s LGBTQ+
community and allies the opportunity
to experience recreational softball in
a welcoming, fun, and competitive
environment.
ktownwomenssoftball@gmail.com
ktownsoftball.org
Facebook.com/ktownwomenssoftball
College Resources
VolOUT
The University of Tennessee's
undergraduate LGBTQ+ social
organization. Meetings held every other
Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Humanities and
Social Sciences Building Room 56
Wolout@utk.edu
utk.collegiatelink.net/organization/
volout
UTK Pride Center
As a physical symbol
of UT's commitment to diversity, Pride
Center provides support, resources, and
a community space for UT's LGBTQIA
and ally students, faculty, and staff, as
well as anyone who seeks to learn
1616 Melrose Ave
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
Smoky Mountain Rollers Bowling
League
The ideal league for anyone looking to
have a good time Sunday afternoons!
Come bowl relax, and watch all the
football games with us all year long! This
is a predominantly a LGBTQ+ league,
but is open to all friendly bowlers. Pot
luck held around the holidays! Points
will be continuous through the season.
Pete McKee
peterj98802@yahoo.com
509.670.5456
westernavenue.strikeandspare.com/
leagues
Hard Knox Roller Girls
The Hard Knox Roller Girls (HKRG)
is an all female flat track roller derby
league located in Knoxville, TN. We are
a competitive sports organization who
strives to improve individual athleticism,
self-discipline, and character while
promoting team unity.
www.hardknoxrollergirls.com
(865) 974-7803
pridecenter@utk.edu
PrideCenter.utk.edu
Facebook.com/UTKpridecenter
Pellissippi Pride
A club that offers unity, resources,
and support in social, educational and
political environments for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
students, faculty, staff and their allies.
ppride@pstcc.edu
blogs.pstcc.edu/psccpride/
Facebook.com/PsccPride
100

Youth Resources
East TN Diversity Prom
East TN Diversity Prom Page is where
you can obtain all of the details for the
Diversity Prom. Each year we provide
youth with a safe environment to be
themselves and have a memorable
prom experience.
Rchelshughes72@gmail.com
Facebook.com/EastTnDiversityProm
Youth Pride Fest
First Pres Church in Oak Ridge similar to
Knoxville Pride for youth. It is meant to
let youth show their pride and diversity.
Facebook.com/youthpridefest
Youthpridefest.weebly.com
Local Resources
Knox Pride
Knox Pride Festival 2018 is an open
celebration of music, entertainment
and speakers focused on promoting
Equality and Inclusion of ALL people.
P.O.Box 30315, Knoxville, TN 37930.
info@knoxvillepridefest.org www.
knoxpride.com fb knoxpridefest
Tennessee Equality Project (TEP)
Founded in 2004, engages state and
local governments in Tennessee on
behalf of the gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender community. We fight
negative legislation at the state level
such as the Don't Say Gay, License to
Bully, and Turn the Gays Away bills.
tnep.nationbuilder.com
Knoxville Cares
GLBT & HIV+ Community. Hosts
Knoxville’s World Aid’s Day
3115 Delrose Dr Knoxville, Tennessee
37914 (
865) 621-1943
knoxvillecares@msn.com
knoxvillecares.org
GLSEN Tennessee
GLSEN Middle Tennessee envisions
a world in which every child learns
to accept and respect all people,
regardless of sexual orientation and
gender identity/expression.
615.669.6744
Facebook.com/GLSENTN
Foothills LGBT Center
The Foothills LGBT Center is a 501c3
non-profit dedicated to Serving Our
LGBT Community and Beyond. Here,
there, and everywhere! Specific location
depends on the event Maryville,
Tennessee foothillslgbtcenter@gmail.
com
foothillslgbtcenter.wordpress.com
LGBT Equality in Knoxville - City of
Knoxville Knoxville Police Departmart
LGBT Liaison about concerns, works
collaboratively with the community to
identify solutions, and educates about
recommended safety measures and
available resources.
City County Building 400 Main St. - Rm.
681. Knoxville, TN 37902
cbarry@knoxvilletn.gov
865-215-3146.
knoxvilletn.gov/government/mayors_
office/lgbt_equality_in_knoxville
National Resources
National Center for Lesbian
Rights
NCLR is a non-profit, public interest law
firm which litigates precedent-setting
cases at the trial and appellate court
levels; advocates for equitable public
policies affecting the LGBT community;
provides free legal assistance to LGBT
people and their legal advocates; and
conducts community education on
LGBT legal issues.
nclrights.org
Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is a national organization
committed to achieving full recognition
of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men,
bisexuals, transgender people and
those with HIV through impact litigation,
education and public policy work.
lambdalegal.org
Human Rights Campaign
HRC works to secure equal rights for
LGBT individuals and families at the
federal and state levels by lobbying
elected officials, mobilizing grassroots
supporters, educating Americans,
investing strategically to elect fairminded
officials and partnering with
other LGBT organizations.
hrc.org
GLAAD
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation By ensuring that the
stories of LGBT people are heard
through the media, GLAAD promotes
understanding, increases acceptance,
and advances equality.
glaad.org
GLSEN
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
Network GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and
Straight Education Network, is the
leading national education organization
focused on ensuring safe schools for
all students.
glsen.org
101

National Center for Transgender
Equality
The National Center for Transgender
Equality (NCTE) is a 501(c)3 social
justice organization dedicated to
advancing the equality of transgender
people through advocacy, collaboration
and empowerment.
transequality.org
The National Gay and Lesbian
Taskforce
The National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force is to build the grassroots power
of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) community. We
do this by training activists, equipping
state and local organizations with the
skills needed to organize broad-based
campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda
and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and
building the organizational capacity of
our movement.
thetaskforce.org
PFLAG
Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays PFLAG promotes
the health and well-being of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender persons,
their families and friends through:
support, to cope with an adverse
society; education, to enlighten an illinformed
public; and advocacy, to end
discrimination and to secure equal civil
rights.
pflag.org
Soulforce
Soulforce, guided by the spirit of truth
and empowered by the principles
of relentless nonviolent resistance,
works to end the religious and political
oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, and questioning
people.
Soulforce.org
Stonewall Democrats
Stonewall is America's only grassroots
Democratic LGBT organization. We
focus on creating change in three ways:
educating the LGBT community about
the differences between the political
parties; mobilizing the LGBT community
to get out to vote on Election Day for fairminded
Democrats; and standing up
when Republicans attack our families
and our civil rights while we lead the
Democratic party to continue improving
its record on issues important to our
community.
Stonewalldemocrats.us
Bisexual Resource Center
The BRC is the oldest national bi+
organization in the U.S. that advocates
for bisexual visibility and raises
awareness about bisexuality throughout
the LGBT and ... We use “bi” and “bi+”
as inclusive terms for those who are
non-monosexual/non-monoromantic
and can include those who identify as
bisexual, pansexual.
biresource.org
Pansexuality/Polysexuality-
ALGBTICAL
There are few organizations which are
geared solely for those who identify
as pansexual, and many bisexual
organizations include alternative
identities such as: pansexual,
omnisexual, multisexual, and other nonmonosexualities,
so representation and
visibility likely also play a part in how
people choose to self-identify.
algbtical.org/2A%20PANSEXUAL
Talkline GLBT
National Help Center
LGBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE.
Toll-free 1-800-246-PRIDE
(1-800-246-7743)
HOURS: M-F 4pm -12am
Saturday from 12pm- 5pm,
help@LGBThotline.org
glbthotline.org/talkline
Messiah Lutheran Church, ELCA
6900 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
865-588-9753
102

Health & Wellness Resources
Contact Care Line
Where Listening Saves Lives your East
Tennessee Lifeline crisis center
800-273-TALK (8255)
contactlistens.org
National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline Call Lifeline
We can all help prevent suicide.
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free
and confidential support for people
in distress, prevention and crisis
resources for you or your loved ones,
and best practices for professionals.
1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line is the free, 24/7,
confidential text message service for
people in crisis. Text HOME to 741741
in the United States.
crisistextline.org
The Trevor Project
Teen Depression Help For LGBTQ+ A
national 24-hour, toll free confidential
suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth.
(866) 488-7386
Thetrevorproject.org
Planned Parenthood
LGBTQ+ Services in Knoxville, TN
Knoxville Health Center offers the
following services specifically for
clients who identify as LGBTQ+:
Hormone Therapy for Transgender
Clients Additional services: General
Health Care HIV Testing LGBT Services
Men's Health Care, Morning-After Pill
(Emergency Contraception), Pregnancy
Testing & Services, STD Testing,
Treatment & Vaccines Women's Health
Care Abortion Services, Birth Control
710 North Cherry St. Knoxville, TN 37914
865-694-7155
Plannedparenthood.org
NAMI, the National Alliance
on Mental Illness, is the nation's
largest grassroots mental health
organization dedicated to building
better lives for the millions of Americans
affected by mental illness.
nami.org
Mobile Crisis Unit Helen Ross
McNabb
Center If it is determined that the person
in crisis needs to be seen, a master's
level clinician will meet with the client
in person or via video conference to
determine level of care needed.
Mobile Crisis Unit Hotline (865) 539-
2409.
mcnabbcenter.org/service/mobilecrisis-unit-0
Mental Health Association of
East Tennessee
We are committed to being one of the
main links to services within the area.
With so many different treatment
options, it can be overwhelming to try
and identify which service is right for
you. Adult Crisis Services For:
Knox, Loudon, Blount, Monroe, Sevier
County: Helen Ross McNabb (
865)-539-2409
For Anderson, Roane, Morgan, Scott,
Campbell County: Ridgeview
(865)-481-6176
mhaet.com/mental-health.php
Knox County Health Department
Clinical Health Immunizations, WIC,
women's health, STD testing and
treatment, dental program, pediatric
care, and HIV/AIDS testing and care ·
Birth and death certificates
140 Dameron Ave
Knoxville, TN 37917
(865) 215-5000
knoxcounty.org/health/
The Hope Center Hope Center
Our mission is to provide the necessary
tools, knowledge, and resources to
the HIV community at no cost to the
client. The goal is to increase access
to care, and to decrease stigma and
raise awareness. We are committed
to providing a safe and judgment-free
environment for persons infected or
affected by HIV.
3001 Lake Brook Blvd #103
Knoxville, TN 37909
(865) 374-0870
covenanthomecareandhospice.com/
hopecenter
Positively Living
Positively Living serves vulnerable
groups struggling to survive the
challenges created by HIV/AIDS,
homelessness, mental illness,
addiction, and disabilities. Our
mission is to improve the lives of the
people we serve through advocacy,
counseling, socialization, housing, case
management and support.
900 E Hill Ave #280
Knoxville, TN 37915
(865) 525-1540
positively-living.org
Project Act Knoxville
Project ACT plans on meeting people
where they are. So we will be out in local
Gay bars and clubs, at PrideFest events,
welcoming and accepting churches
and any other places that you would
like to recommend. Counseling Project
ACT offers Awareness, Counseling,
Testing
projectactknox.com
Other Half Cat
We have a passion for factual, sexpositive
adult education and grassroots
advocacy with an eye toward LGBTQIA+
public health and reproductive issues.
We’re also queer, kinky, and a little overstimulated.
FaceBook.com/otherhalfcat
LGBTQ National Help Center
1215 N. Central Ave.
888.843.4564
103

Spiritual Resources
Metropolitan Community Church
of Knoxville
A Community of Faith. MCC Knoxville
is a Christian Church serving the gay
male, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and
straight communities of Knoxville and
East Tennessee. We come together from
a rich variety of religious experiences and
denominational backgrounds.
7820 Redeemer Ln,
Knoxville, TN 37919
865.531.2539
mccknoxville.org
Rock Metropolitan Community
Church
The Rock MCC is committed to: LEAD
people to Jesus Christ! EQUIP them with the
tools to grow spiritually & celebrate Christian
diversity, SEND them out to serve Christ, the
Church, the Community, & one another!
1601 Foust St
Chattanooga, TN 37404
423.629.2737
Facebook.com/TheRockMCC
Tennessee Valley Unitarian
Universalist Church
Our Mission is to create a welcoming
community that nurtures spiritual growth
and challenges us to transform the world
through acts of love and justice.
2931 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 523-4176
http://tvuuc.org
Facebook.com/TennesseeValleyUUC
Westside Unitarian Universalist
Church Knoxville
We strive to be a religious home to all people
regardless of age, gender, race, sexual
orientation, opinions, beliefs, or abilities and
to be good stewards of the earth.
616 Fretz Rd, Knoxville, TN 37934
865.777.9882
westsideuuc.org
Foothills Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship
We are a growing congregation bringing
diverse people together to connect with
Love, Love one another, and Love the world.
1404 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville, TN
37803 865.282.3883
fuuf.org
Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist
Church
Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World.
809 Oak Ridge Tpke Oak Ridge TN
865.483.6761
oruuc.org
Community of St. Ninian
The Community of St. Ninian is a Christian
covenant community. Members meet
together for worship, prayer, study, and
service. It is our desire to provide a space in
our lives for God to dwell, as well as to seek
a dwelling place for God in our lives.
saintninianswell.org
communityofstninian@gmail.com
Pagan Pride of East Tennessee
An organization that helps coordinate
events in the local pagan community and is
based on the Pagan Pride Project.
paganprideofeasttn.org
Gods Remnant Ministries
As imperfect as the church is, we promise to
walk with you through whatever tomorrow
brings and many times in our LGBT
community those times can be very dark.
3617 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920
865.249.8130
theremnantknoxville.org
Agape Christian Church Knoxville
Agape is a LGBTQS friendly church. We are
a spirit filled church that still use Red Back
Hymnals in our service. We Love GOD and
Love People!!!
120 Durwood RD Knoxville, TN 37922
423.304.6993
Church of the Savior UCC,
Knoxville
The mission of Church of the Savior, is to
be an inclusive Christian church where we
share our spiritual journeys with one another
and seek to manifest the unconditional love
of God toward all people and all creation.
934 N Weisgarber Rd Knoxville, TN
865.584-7531
St. John's Episcopal Cathedral
In 1976, the General Convention of the
Episcopal Church declared that “homosexual
persons are children of God who have a
full and equal claim with all other persons
upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral
concern and care of the Church" (1976-
A069) To our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender brothers, sisters and siblings:
“The Episcopal Church welcomes you!”
413 W. Cumberland Ave. Knoxville, TN
37902 865.525.7347
episcopalchurch.org/page/lgbt-church
The Episcopal Church of the
Good Samaritan
425 North Cedar Bluff Rd.
goodsamaritan.dioet.org
865.693.9591
St. Luke’s Episcopal
600 S Chestnut S
facebook.com/stlukesknoxville
865.522.4244
St Elizabeth's Episcopal Church
110 Sugarwood Dr
865.675.0450
St Thomas Episcopal Church
5401 Tiffany Ln
865.688.2741
St Paul Episcopal Church
1028 Boyds Creek Hwy
865.577.1255
St. Andrew's Episcopal
314 W. Broadway Ave.,
Maryville, TN 37801
865.983.3512
The Episcopal Church of the
Good Samaritan
425 N Cedar Bluff Rd
865.693.9591
Tyson House Student
Foundation (Episcopal & Lutheran
Campus Ministry, University of
Tennessee )
824 Melrose Pl # 1
Tysonhouse.org
865.637.2031
The Redeemed Church
10875 Kingston Pike
theredeemedchurchtn.org
865.206.4056
104

PRIDE BOOK COVERS FROM PAST YEARS
show us your culture. show us your identity.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO:
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2
PRIDE GUIDE
105

PRIDE BOOK COVERS FROM PAST YEARS
- 2015 -
K N O X V I L L E
PRIDEFEST
2016
2017
LOVE
WON
2017 PRIDEBOOK
2016 PRIDEBOOK
106

THE BEGINNING OF KNOXVILLE PRIDEFEST
In the spring of 2006 The Knoxville Human
Rights Group (KHRG), now the Tennessee
Equality Project- Knox County Committee,
first took on the task of organizing an
LGBTQ+ Pride Festival in Knoxville, TN.
There had been other “Knoxville Pride”
organizations with various festivals/events
over the years, but none had been able to
continue successfully for the long-term.
The East TN LGBTQ+ community
desperately needed some stability and an
organization that would consistently offer
them a voice through visibility. The KHRG
had originally been organized to fight the
Federal Marriage Amendment in the early
2000’s. It consisted of community leaders
and activists, led by M. Todd Cramer,
and would come to provide the LGBTQ+
community the consistent voice that they
needed through an annual festival known as
Knoxville PrideFest.
The purpose of Knoxville PrideFest was
to provide a safe, public event where the
LGBTQ+ community and its supporters
could fellowship in a show of solidarity
supporting equal rights for all people.
With limited funds and just a handful of
volunteers, the first couple of Knoxville
PrideFest festivals consisted of 10-25
booths with primarily community groups,
supportive churches and a smattering
of vendors. The entertainment consisted
of a few speakers and a dozen or so
primarily local musicians/performers who
graciously donated their time and talents.
The few hundred attendees that came
specifically for the festival were hard to
distinguish among the thousands that
regularly crowded our home on Market
Square in Downtown Knoxville. However,
as the word spread of the safe space,
welcoming atmosphere, growing crowds
and community spirit, the festival quickly
became more than any of us could imagine.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE INDIVIDUALS, BOTH
PAST AND PRESENT, THAT MAKE THIS PRIDE
FESTIVAL THE SUCCESS IT HAS BECOME
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO VOLUNTEER
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORT
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTEND
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108

Thanks To Our Sponsors
We could not do it without you. Support those who support us!
PRESENTING
HOST
MAJOR
OFFICIAL
Official Wireless Carrier of Knox Pride
Leidos+ Pride
One Celebration
leidos.com/pride
Dr. John L. Law MD
109

Thanks We To support Our Sponsors
We could not do it without you. Support those who support us!
better vision for
SUPPORTING
Locations in Knoxville, Fountain City, Farragut, Maryville, Sevierville, and Hardin Valley.
BEVERAGE
HOST HOTEL
Find out more info at KnoxPride.com and follow us on Social Media
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