July 30th, 2022

The purpose of Blount Pride is to uplift and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community of Blount County. We do this through public events that make our lives and our stories visible and through building connections across the diversity of our experiences.

Parking

Please note, the only entrance to the park is located next to the accessible parking lot by Greenbelt Pavilion.

Event Map

Stuff you need to know:

  • What to Bring:
    • a camp chair or picnic blanket to set up in front of the entertainment or where ever you please
    • Water and sunscreen! It's gonna be hot y'all.
    • Snacks/food/a picnic. We have recruited one food truck (Stolen Streetlights whose menu is posted below).
  • There will be only one entrance and exit to the park which is the registration area by Greenbelt Pavilion.
  • This event is free for everyone but you must have an armband to enter. Bands will be available at the entrance at the registration table.
  • No sales or fundraising is allowed in the Park, per the City of Maryville, which is why we have a community resource fair rather than vendors.
  • This extends to tipping performers unfortunately; We are paying our performers!
  • There will be water, chairs and tables at the Chill Out Tent for when you need to beat the heat.
  • A first aid tent will be available next to the Greenbelt Pavilion.
  • No weapons are permitted at the event.
  • Maryville Police Department will be providing security for this event.
  • Please leave the accessible parking (a.k.a. the Greenbelt Pavilion lot) for those with mobility issues. Parking options can be viewed here.


Blount Pride Event Schedule

Performer Spotlights can be found after the schedule.

When

What's Happening

Where

7/29 at 7pm

Pride Pre-Game - Join us for dancing, karaoke and grab your Blount Pride merch for the big day!

All times below on 7/30,

3pm

Event Opens to the Public

3pm

Community Resource Fair Opens

Community Resource Fair Tent

3pm

Kid Activities Open

Youth Tents

3pm

Stop by and make encouragement cards for the GSA Clubs at local high schools!

Teen Tent

3pm

Community Art and Fun Stuff!

Greenbelt Pavilion

4pm

Drag/Rainbow Storytime for Kids

Amphitheater

4:20pm

A word from Laura Bogle about Blount Pride

Amphitheater

4:30pm

Amphitheater

5pm

Greenbelt Pavilion

5pm

Amphitheater

5pm

Teen Activity - Shadows of Ourselves: Imitating the Art of J.R. Mounts

Teen Tent

5:30pm

Drag Review hosted by Tyra Von Shade

Amphitheater

6pm

Jaq

Amphitheater

6pm

Teen Activity - Intro to Queer History

Teen Tent

6:30pm

Amphitheater

7pm

Community Resource Fair Closes

Community Resource Fair Tent

7pm

Amphitheater

8pm

Event Closes to the Public

Performer Spotlights

Bio coming soon!

Jaq is a Master’s student studying Urban Food Forestry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. They’ve lived as far west as Portland, OR, as far north as Traverse City, MI, as far south as Plano, TX, and as far east as Burghausen, Germany (with many homes and loved ones in between). Jaq is also the Student Director of the Tennessee Champion Tree Program, where they help measure and record the largest specimen of each tree species in the state. Besides all that cool tree stuff, they are a Knoxville songwriter/musician and are joyfully and vibrantly queer!


Photographed by: Taryn Ferro @awsnapshots

Nayeema is a 22 year old singer-songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee(they/them). They started their music journey by writing songs to help understand their emotions so an outlet to cope. Nayeema is self taught musician, teaching themself how to play the guitar at age 13, next the piano, and with the help of Knoxville Girls Rock camp and Girls Rock Camp Alliance, they learned how to play the bass, drums, and learned musical production. Nayeema’s music journey has been one of self exploration and expression rather than impression and acclaim. To show that there is a space  in music for you to share your story regardless what that story is. Nayeema now does work with Knoxville’s Girls Rock camp as a board member and an organizer as well as Girls Rock Camp Alliance as a board member and part of the identity group council!


Adeem the Artist (they/them/theirs) is a seventh-generation Carolinian, a makeshift poet, singer-songwriter, storyteller, and blue-collar Artist. They began toiling at their instrument in 2002 when their family relocated to Syracuse, NY and used songwriting as a vehicle to process the ensuing culture shock, their faith, and later their journey through apostasy.


Blending a homegrown affection for Country Music with the emotional ballyhoo of alternative folk in the early aughts, they have created a unique brand of Americana that pays homage to John Prine and John Darnielle (of The Mountain Goats) in equal parts.


On Cast-Iron Pansexual, they received praise from Rolling Stone & American Songwriter for their work exploring identity across coalescing subcultures. Traveling to Carolina to get their Tarot read while straddling the duality of being a "blue collar boy" who is a "complicated dame," Adeem excavates unwonted stories of the forgotten south.


After touring with American Aquarium and opening for acts like Will Hoge, Emily Wolfe, & Jaime Wyatt, they launched the "Redneck Fundraiser," to finance their new album. In a matter of a few weeks, they raised over $15,000 to work with an all-star cast of musicians on their upcoming record for a release in late 2022.

Event Partners

Supporters

Knoxville Gay Men's Chorus

Central Cinema

Round 6 Brewing

Epic Nine Marketing Outfitters

Haven Media

ABBA Handyman Services - Jake Reynolds

The Rock & Metal Academy

Izze Sykes

Lisa Misosky

Councilwoman Sarah Herron

Charmaine Nichols, Attorney at Law

Doug & Kris Brenneise

Katy Chiles

Danielle Lincoln

Ben Nicholas

The Lippert Family

Sue DuBois

Dixie

Sherry Shurden Brewer

Abigail D. Blankner

Blount County Democratic Party


If you supported Blount Pride 2022, and don't see your name here we didn't forget you! We are confirming that you want to be listed in the program. Please reach out to us via Facebook with questions.


Blount Pride Steering Committee

Anita Blatnik

Ari Baker

Kevin Rakestraw

Bryana Ezell

Gibran Cuevas

Jennifer Spirko

Rob Spirko

Rhonda Radford

Shannon Bryant

Bryan Baker






Blount Pride Volunteers 2022

Chery Kendrick

Erica Reynolds and Jasmine Reynolds

Accenture LGBT ERG

Nicole Samu

Kathie Shiba

Lelia Fain

Jenn Hardy

Jake Reynolds

Sabrina Gatlin

Marge Meredith

Carmina de Guia-Jones

Marcus Jones

Bethany Cheatham

Sarah Cruze





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Be sure to keep in touch to learn about future events!


Thanks for coming to Blount Pride 2022. <3