Press
2023
March 31, 2023 10:36 AM EDT
Knox Pride to host celebration for Transgender Day of Visibility
The International Transgender Day of Visibility is a day meant to celebrate transgender people across the world and to defy efforts internationally that threaten them. For the transgender community, it can be a day to gather and uplift each other despite the obstacles many transgender people face.
March 31, 20235:41 AM EDT
Trans Tennesseans face backlash after school shooting
When Nashville police announced that the shooter who killed three children and three adults at a school this week was transgender, trans Tennesseans braced themselves for renewed vitriol in a state that has recently proposed a raft of anti-trans laws.
March 27, 2023 7:36 PM EDT
How drag was pushed back into the shadows in Tennessee
Last April, when drag could still be performed in Tennessee without noticeable complaint, the curtains parted at Tennessee Tech University's Backdoor Playhouse to reveal Joshua Lancaster wearing a black cowl, white face paint, black lipstick and white contact lenses.
February 23, 2023 3:38 PM EST
‘I thought better of Tennessee’ Knox Pride dismayed after drag, trans bills passed
Disappointed, disheartened and speechless were words used by an executive of local nonprofit Knox Pride when describing how the organization feels about the bills that passed the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday.
March 2, 2023 3:59 PM EST
Bill effectively banning public drag shows signed into law
Governor Bill Lee signed a bill into law that effectively bans public drag performances. Opponents of the bill said it could have far-reaching effects on the state's LGBTQ community. It will go into effect on April 1.
February 14, 2023 9:30 PM EST
Knox Pride official tells Oak Ridge League that gender transition ban bills are 'cruel'
Republican lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly appear to be at war against young Tennesseans under 18 who do not see themselves as exclusively male or female (nonbinary) or who experience a gender and personal identity that do not correspond to their birth sex (transgender). That was one of the messages shared by speakers at the recent meeting of the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge (LWVOR) on proposed laws concerning youths of various sexual identities.
February 13, 2023 6:36 PM EST
Crowd gathers for downtown 'Enough is Enough Rally' against anti-trans and anti-drag bills
Knox Pride said they worked with several other East Tennessee organizations on the demonstration against bills they said could target the LGBTQ+ community.
February 10, 2023 2:22 PM EST
Knox Pride Festival threatens to cancel if bill that could outlaw drag in public places becomes law
A Knoxville, Tennessee, festival celebrating the LGBTQ community has threatened to cancel a scheduled October event if a bill proposed in the state legislature to limit drag performances in public becomes law.
February 9, 2023 6:10 PM EST
Knox Pride will cancel 2023 festival and parade if Tennessee's drag bill becomes law
Knox Pride organizers say they will cancel this year's festival and parade if Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs a bill altering Tennessee's obscenity law to limit "male and female impersonators."
February 9, 2023 5:08 PM EST
Knox Pride could cancel 2023 Pride Festival if bill criminalizing 'cabaret entertainment' passes
The bill is aimed at broadly banning public drag performances, but a lawyer said it could be applied to many other situations.
February 9, 2023 5:10 PM EST
Knox Pride responds to drag show bill
Knox Pride said it will cancel the pride festival in October if a bill banning drag shows becomes law.
February 9, 2023 4:12 PM EST
Knox Pride will cancel 2023 festival and parade if Tennessee's drag bill becomes law
Knox Pride organizers say they will cancel this year's festival and parade if Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs a bill altering Tennessee's obscenity law to limit "male and female impersonators."
February 3, 2023
In Opposition To Government Overreach Into The LGBTQIA+ Community - And Response
As the Tennessee state legislature begins its work in this new year, we, an ecumenical coalition of clergy, rabbis, and faith leaders from different religious traditions in East Tennessee, wish to declare that we stand proudly alongside all of those who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We affirm lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer members of our community, of our state, of our nation, and of the world, unconditionally and unequivocally.
January 30, 2023 5:00 PM EST
Oak Ridge League topic: Laws, children of different sexual identities
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will host John Jaruzel and Anne Backus, co-chairs of Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Oak Ridge, and Nathan Higdon, chief financial officer for Knox Pride, to discuss the laws and children of different sexual identities.
January 27, 2023 9:01 PM EST
Knox Pride opens satellite food pantry to help more people
Knox Pride said it is growing its mission to help the community, opening a satellite food pantry at the South Press coffee shop.
January 4, 2023 4:54 PM EST
Knox Pride opens new thrift store in South Knoxville, 'Knox Pride Thriftique'
Knox Pride said they are keeping all of their usual services and programs, but now they also have a thrift store.