Listen The Big Gay Radio Show Podcast on Spotify
This lively and engaging radio show stands as the only show dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community in Tampa Bay. Join hosts Bryan Hinkson, Esmé Russell, and Chris Gorman weekly as they bring you the latest and greatest music from LGBTQIA+ artists and allies and insightful news tailored for the LGBTQIA+ community. Explore everything LGBTQIA+ in Tampa Bay with us!
Christopher Gorman, a Tampa Bay native, is one of three hosts of The Big Gay Radio Show. Christopher previously served on the board of a local LGBTQIA+ nonprofit and played a key role in establishing one of Tampa Bay’s most inclusive LGBTQIA+ collegiate scholarships in partnership with St. Petersburg College.
His advocacy work has earned him several accolades, including Watermark Magazine’s W.A.V.E. Award for Favorite Local Activist in 2023 and Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay Award for Best Activist in 2024. Christopher is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science at the University of South Florida.
Bryan Hinkson was born in Louisiana, with family from New York City, he grew up in the military with his father serving actively in the US Army. Having lived in the United States and abroad most of his young life, his family settled in the Washington DC area which he considers his hometown until his move to Florida.
Bryan has made the Tampa Bay area his home for the past 12 years with an illustrious career in Radio broadcasting. He currently attends St. Petersburg College to obtain his second degree in Graphic Design and you can find him playing softball most Sundays in Tampa Bay’s LGBTQIA+ Suncoast Softball League.
Esmé Russell Is a Tampa native of Cuban ancestry. Born and raised in Ybor city, a Hillsborough High School graduate and with Masters in Metaphysics, Esmé has been doing radio for 15 years 10 of them doing her own show The Esmé Russell Show for GSH Radio. She is also an ordained minister of the universal church and professional entertainer, having won a multitude of beauty pageants and achievement awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Esmé has been performing for over 40 years and recently celebrated her 30th anniversary as a former Miss Florida for female impersonation
David was born in South New Jersey near Philadelphia and moved to the Tampa area at 13, where he discovered my passion for broadcast news/media. He has over 30 years in TV and radio experience.
He began in high school as an award-winning Executive Producer for their live daily news show UPC TV. In his senior year, David worked as a producer for Into the Night with RASHKE in Tampa (Previously 101 WUSA). He earned a degree in Digital Art/Media & Technology while working in Production at the Home Shopping Network.
David shifted to digital media in 2000 and founded Tampa Bay Gay in 2001. David and Tampa Bay Gay have won multiple awards, including Favorite LGBTQ+ Writer/Journalist and Website.
Claire Elisan is the founder and CEO of Project No Labels, a nonprofit with the mission to unite the LGBTQ+ community with straight allies through positive activities and events while promoting mental wellness and having fun.
Project No Labels was the recipient of Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Business of Pride Award in 2018, was named 3rd Most Effective Local Nonprofit by Watermark Magazine in 2020 and Organizational Grand Marshal St Pete Pride 2017.
In 2020, Elisan was named second Favorite Local Activist by Watermark, one of Business Equality’s 40 LGBTQ Leaders Under 40, and was also awarded Volunteer of the Year by Tampa Bay Rays in 2018.
