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Residents and faith leaders urge Sevier County Commission to bring Pride Month proclamation to the floor
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Summary
At the May 15 Sevier County Commission meeting, more than a dozen residents, faith leaders and LGBTQ community members urged commissioners to advance a Pride Month proclamation after a Steering Committee again declined to move it forward, citing discrimination, bullying and a petition of roughly 1,300 signatures.
At the Sevier County Commission meeting on May 15, 2023, more than a dozen residents, faith leaders and people who identified as LGBTQ urged commissioners to bring a Pride Month proclamation to the commission floor after a Steering Committee declined to advance the item.
Speakers described repeated rejections of the proclamation and urged formal recognition or at least a public discussion. Winter Caymen told the commission the proclamation’s resubmission “was turned down again by the Steering Committee” despite what the speaker said was an additional 1,300 petition signatures supporting it. The transcript does not specify which steering committee took that action.
A number of speakers described personal and community harm. A transgender resident who identified as Braxton Allen (who also used the name “Eli” in remarks) said they faced discrimination at work and at school and pressed the commission for action. Gibron Cuevas, who identified as a resident and military/Coast Guard staff, said “suicide rates are highest among LGBT youth,” urging commissioners to consider the mental‑health consequences of inaction. Gatlinburg Presbyterian pastor Barry Simmons urged acceptance and asked commissioners to allow the proclamation to reach the full body for debate and a vote.
Other public commentators pressed procedural fairness and transparency. Joe McCarter criticized the commission’s responsiveness, referencing recent local news coverage about school‑meal pricing and property taxes and saying commissioners were not being “honest and upfront” with residents. Several speakers said they believed the county should support LGBT residents; one speaker, Brian Burnett, argued a proclamation was not necessary to live out Christian teaching of love and acceptance. Kestrel Dawn and others called the steering decision “a step backward” for community inclusion.
Commissioners took no recorded vote on a Pride Month proclamation during the meeting. The public comments occurred during the non‑agenda public‑comment period; the meeting’s formal actions that evening instead focused on routine business and several rezoning resolutions that were combined into a single vote.
The commission moved its June meeting from June 19 to June 26 and noted the July meeting was canceled unless pressing matters arise. No further procedural steps on the Pride Month proclamation were recorded in the meeting minutes provided.