Gay in knoxville
Knoxville LGBTQ City Guide
Knoxville is a beautiful Tennessee town situated near the Superb Smoky Mountains and offering an abundance of spontaneous beauty. It is also well known for existence home to the University of Tennessee. Beyond that, however, it is also a city that is home to many businesses, a thriving arts and culture scene, many diverse neighborhoods, and much to see and do. Even better, it is a city with a vibrant and welcoming LGBT people where all can sense welcome and at dwelling. If you’re thinking of finding your next residence in Knoxville, chances are, you’ll find plenty about it to love!
A Watch at Knoxville's History
Knoxville has a long and rich history. In truth, it was established as the capital of the Southwest Territory as extended ago as the administration of George Washington. It was there when Tennessee was founded and was in fact the capital of the state for the first 20 years of its existence. As the state grew, Knoxville did too, particularly after the arrival of the railroad which brought a great deal of industry to the city. As it grew, it also became increasingly diverse and today it is a thriving, welcoming, vibrant capital where all can locate
Knoxville's LGBTQ+ history is at risk. Here are some of the organizations preserving it
It can be difficult to uncover evidence of what LGBTQ+ life and culture looked prefer years ago in East Tennessee. For starters, prejudice and hate systemically prevented those stories from being preserved and shared in the same ways as much of the area's history.
But it's there. LGBTQ+ people and their experiences are an inextricable part of Knoxville's past, present and future.
With Club XYZ celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, Knox News position out to stare into the history of LGBTQ+ bars and clubs in the city, but our usual methods of research turned up little. When we broadened our efforts, we set up a few of the people and groups working to preserve this life-giving part of the past with stories, artifacts and documents that reflect the rich and varied LGBTQ+ experience.
We start records of clubs and bars, yes, but also of past Pride celebrations, local drag queens, tea dances, an LGBTQ+ church and a newsletter dash by and for the East Tennessee queer community.
Our have archives were sparse to say the least. Newspapers − including this one − rarely wrote about the Queer population. When the
NIGHTCLUBS BARS BREWERIES
Knoxville LGBTQ Friendly Business Directory
Dance & Night Club, Gay Bar, Setting New & Higher Standards for Male lover Nightlife in East Tennessee, Voted Knoxville's Best Gay Block 2010-2017 and 2019-2021 1215 N. Pivotal Street. Knoxville TN (865) 637-4999
Bar & Grill, Gay Exclude, Live Music Venue, Live Shows Friday-Monday. Locally owned LGBTQIA+ bar and grill. Ages 21+ only. 7211 Kingston Pike Knoxville TN (865) 247-5243
CHATTANOOGA TN
Alan Gold's 1100 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN.
COOKVILLE TN
Club TemptationDance & Darkness Club, Performance & Event Venue, 18yrs old and over. Join us every Thursday for Trivia, weekends we hold Drag shows and Sundays Karaoke. We are a exclude for everyone and there is no judgement, leave your drama and worries at the door. We have two pool tables, kitchen with bar diet and smoking patio. 185 Millar Rd Cookeville TN
JOHNSON CITY
New Beginnings 2910 Bristol Hwy Johnson Town TN @New Beginnings
bernadette's crystal lounge
Bernadette's Crystal Themed Lounge, 32 Market Square, Knoxville TN
Rooftop bar accessed from Bernadette's and Preservation Pub
Y’all Means All – The Male lover Scene in Knoxville
“Y’all means ALL” courtesy of Taryn Ferro
In 2012 the international LGBTQ Magazine The Advocate listed Knoxville as the “8th Gayest City in America” during its countdown of places to live or visit in the USA. While the criteria used to generate this list was viewed as pretty shaky (number of nude yoga studios & WNBA teams per capita?) and the general public both in and out of East Tennessee laughed off the proclamation that Knoxville was a Homosexual Friendly place to live and visit, I am here to tell you that this mid-sized city is actually a attractive great place for LGBTQ+ people to visit and call residence. Here is a list of the many reasons why you should make Knoxville your next travel destination.
Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville courtesy of Tod Sheley
Geography: Knoxville is the largest city in East Tennessee and is nestled in a huge valley at the foot of the Smoky Mountains. Often viewed as a regional capital of sorts, Knoxville has been a major population center for about as long as people hold been living in the Southern Appalachian area of the US. What this means for tourists is