While many people drive through Chattanooga on their way from Atlanta to Nashville, few stop. We let the cat out of the bag with this one. There are also many LGBT rights non-profit organizations in Knoxville, including Knox Pride. Other highlights that make Knoxville a great place to be out and proud include that it was one of the first cities in the south and the first in Tennessee to have an LGBT liaison for the Knoxville Police Department and the Mayor’s administration. The Edge and Club XYZ are two local favorites when it comes to letting your hair down and having a drink in a gay-friendly bar. In fact, Knoxville rivals Memphis in its number of gay bars, despite being about half the size. This medium-sized city has a sizable queer population with businesses to boot. In fact, Knoxville’s 2018 Pride Festival helped the city set the record for the largest Pride Fest in Tennessee.
If you’re in the area, you have to check out Keep Knox Queer or one of the other major gay pride events hosted in the city. It’s not uncommon to stumble across a march downtown in support of LGBT rights or other forms of activism.
And Knoxville came in at number eight for the gayest cities in American according to Advocate in 2012.Īs a university town, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Knoxville remains committed to pushing equality and investing in the arts while protecting the civil liberties of its LGBT residents. Knoxville exclaims its inclusivity with the motto: Y’all Means ALL. They are a resource for the community and cultural events along with health and wellness and preventing homelessness. OUTMemphis is an exceptionally effective and large non-profit that centers its energy and efforts on helping all LGBT people in the Memphis area. Memphis also hosts the Mid-South Pride Festival, which always attracts a massive turnout. This historic city has one of the most prominent LGBT community theater organizations, Friends of George’s. The Memphis Gaydar is also a fun way to stay apprised with gay news, events, and more in the city and surrounding areas. Like Nashville, Memphis has a widely circulated LGBT publication, Focus Mid-South, which keeps the community up on the latest events and happenings. The Pumping Station and DRUS Bar are some of the most happening places for LGBT nightlife. Here you will find a Wrangler’s-and-cowboy-boots aesthetic, but you don’t have to wear spurs to have fun. Memphis is home to many gay bars in and around its downtown center in the Midtown area. In fact, Memphis has the highest number of LGBT non-profits in Tennessee. And they’re ready to step up and help LBGT youth, trans people, and other LGBT people. This expansive city embraces both art and its residents, no matter how they identify. Memphis is a haven for Tennessee's LGBT population. What neighborhoods in Nashville are the most gay-friendly? PFLAG, Nashville CARES, and Oasis are the most well-known in the area. Many of the area’s gay and straight residents volunteer and support the many non-profits in the area that support struggling gay youth and other queer people in need of a helping hand. And Music City also has a wide array of smaller gay pride events throughout the year. Nashville also hosts an elaborate and exciting pride parade and pride festival each year. Nashville even has its own gay publication, Out & About, which you will find at all the local libraries. With more fun and culture than most new residents can experience in under a year, you likely won’t be surprised that Nashville offers many unique gay experiences such as Suzy Wong’s House of Yum and Cafe Coco. While many people refer to Nashville as the “buckle of the Bible Belt,” others have renamed it “ A shining liberal buckle on the tired Bible Belt.” This is because Nashville has an extensive liberal and progressive population. This hotbed of art and music has been a hub for queer communities in Tennessee for decades. There’s no need for Nashville to come out as gay-friendly. In order to create our list of the most friendly, inclusive, and open places for LGBT individuals to live, we looked at pride events, gay-friendly businesses, LGBT non-profits, and LGBT organizations. However, identifying a gay-friendly locale from the outside may not be as easy. When you’re in an LGBT-friendly neighborhood, you feel the warm hug of welcomeness.
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How To Determine If A Neighborhood Is LGBT Friendly