Inaugural in-person event to take place along Sevier Avenue
Sevier Avenue has a special sort of energy that has made the thriving stretch of road in South Knoxville, with its breweries, bike lanes and adjacency to the Urban Wilderness, radiate a rich sense of community. So when Knox Pride announced for the second year in a row that the in-person PrideFest was being pushed to a digital format, South Knoxville community organizers James “Jimi” Miller, Lily Lovingood and others knew that Sevier Avenue was their best bet at realizing a safe in-person pride celebration.
The result of their efforts is South Knoxville Pride, which will take place along Sevier Avenue on Saturday, June 12. The fun kicks off at 11 a.m. and will last throughout the day.
“I love that that even though [Sevier Avenue] is actually quite small, there is still a community within the space that makes it unique and lovable,” says Lovingood. “It has also begun to feel like a very important area for queer people to create meaningful space.” Miller agrees, “I think it’s important for queer people to create spaces for themselves so that they can have a place that they feel safe, and that is what we are aiming to do.”
Small businesses play a huge role in that sense of safety and community, which is why Miller and Lovingood, both of whom are UT students and bartenders/servers at restaurant Simpl. on Sevier, are partnering with other Sevier Avenue businesses, including Trailhead, Landing House and others, to shape the South Knoxville Pride event.
“We knew that a parade was too risky in terms of social distancing, so we’re planning on setting it up so that each business is paired with a queer organization who will have some sort of activity planned,” says Miller. “I know that Simpl. is going to have some drag queens, and we’ll be working with South Press coffee and a couple of other local spots to make it interactive for everyone involved.”
One of the big goals of the organizers and businesses is for attendees to take advantage of all of the outdoor spaces that Sevier Avenue has to offer. Miller and Lovingood picture attendees meandering from space to space, taking time to gather at nearby Suttree Landing Park or the large grassy spaces that line the street.
“Downtown Knoxville in general is pretty tight on space, which is fun and wonderful when we’re not just coming out of a pandemic,” says Miller. “But South Knoxville on the other hand is spread out, and we have Suttree Landing Park within walking distance. We also have all these businesses who want to be a part of it that have outdoor spaces that can facilitate people social distancing and being safe.”
Both Miller and Lovingood stress that attendees are encouraged to play it safe by wearing masks indoors, keeping their distance when needed and just being respectful in general. Those simple precautions make it possible to bring the broader community together at a critical time.
“It’s important to do this because we’re coming out of a pandemic, and people need interaction – especially the queer community,” says Miller. “We need to be amongst ourselves and allies. I think it’s just really important for growth. I also think that it’s really important for local businesses, especially here in South Knoxville. During the pandemic, it was really touch and go for a lot of the businesses here, and we need to bring some action and support them because they’re bringing a sense of community to South Knoxville.”
Miller and Lovingood share that the best way to participate in South Knoxville Pride is by simply showing up and supporting the organizations, businesses and community involved. However, if you’re looking to contribute monetarily, the pair recommend donating to the Trans Empowerment Project, The Bottom or East Tennessee Harm Reduction.
