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Queer voices, Honest conversations, Big energy live
from the WM and F studios in Tampa.
It's time for the big gay radio show.
Welcome to the Big gay radio show.
My name is Chris Gorman. I'm your show twink here, joined
by the electric trans queen of radio, Esme Russell.
I'm doing better today. Are you now?
You know, I wasn't doing well. I will.
We'll talk about it later. But I wasn't doing well as well.
I started out bad, but then it got good.
Yeah. You know, when you're, when you
have attention deficit disorder and all the other disorders that
I have is complicated. Well, I do have a a little
update that I want to go ahead and and share before we go ahead
and go into our our show with regards to the the Hillsborough
County Public Schools teacher that allegedly hung the black
baby doll. The teacher has officially been
suspended and is currently under investigation and removed from
her position. But I also want to go ahead and
point out the the child's mother, the child's name is
Noah, the child that recorded it.
And Noah's mother, Nina Williams, has gone ahead and
started a fundraiser because Noah had to miss his eighth
grade graduation celebration because he no longer felt safe
or comfortable returning to school.
How old is Noah? He's in 8th grade.
Yeah, so he's a kid. He's a kid.
And so she has started a GoFundMe and that's currently
on, you know, the Big Gay Radio Show's Facebook page is she says
that the fundraiser will help the help for help for home
security, possible relocation costs, legal fees, counseling
and other living expensives. She actually reached out to me
and said that she's been experiencing hate mail and death
threats. And as you know, 2 individuals
who have experienced that. So let me get this correct,
'cause I, I gotta, I want to unravel the story.
So the teacher goes into the classroom and takes a black baby
doll with no clothes on. By the way, the doll had no
clothes. She tied a phone cord around the
doll's neck and hung it from the TV set in the classroom,
correct? And they and people are sending
this. And this little boy filmed it.
Yes, he filmed it because it was a very bad thing.
Obviously he has his phone, access to a phone.
You could hear the children. You could see the children's
faces. Obviously they were disturbed by
it. You can't really care what's
going on. So now this woman, this mom is
getting death, death threats, yes, for something that was done
to her child by a teacher. I mean, what is wrong with you
people? Something we got to do better,
man. We got to do better.
I'm I'm serious. This is very disturbing to me.
Even the part about the investigation, it's on video.
I don't know what they're investigating.
I know that there are legalities involved because Chris and his
legal thing, I know he's going to tell me there's legalese.
I get that part of it. I understand that.
But listen, it's on video. You got caught doing it.
You did it. You don't deserve to be a
teacher. Not just teaching black
students. You just shouldn't be teaching
any students. OK, you're a scary person.
That's a scary thing to do to. Something, and we're going to
talk about this in the in a little bit on the after the news
segment, but there's also a Manatee County 6th grade teacher
who was arrested after deputy said that she ordered one
student to slap another student during class.
These these teachers are crazy. These teachers are crazy.
So she shut the I heard she shut the blinds.
Yep. We'll talk, we'll give.
We'll go all into that after the news segment.
We're going to do better, man. We got to do better, folks.
But first, we got a very special guest in the studio.
We're joined by Lexi Long, Orlando Drag Race Season 10
winner. Welcome into the studio.
Hello, thank you so much for having me.
Thank you so much for joining us.
So for those who do not know what Orlando Drag Race Live is,
what's Orlando Drag Race Live? So Orlando Drag Race Live is is
a competition that has been going on in Orlando for about 10
years. This is season 10.
So it's a competition based off of a classic drag pageant and
then also your favorite TV show or someone's favorite TV show,
RuPaul's Drag Race. There are challenges.
And there's challenges there each week, so every season kind
of works a little different. This season worked and we had
four weeks, which was pretty nice.
So we could condense it down to four nights that we're super
focused on different things. So the first each night would
basically have a runway, a performance and a challenge.
And the challenge could be anything from a stand up comedy
challenge, 2 minutes or some sort of other years they've done
like making outfits out of a dollar store materials or IKEA
bags or, or all sorts of fun stuff.
So it's a very great way to challenge entertainers in a way
that I feel like a lot of classic competitions or pageants
wouldn't really put an entertainer in that situation,
so. Does that he right?
It's out-of-the-box. Right.
It's very, it's, it's very left field and it kind of puts you in
an uncomfortable situation, which is fun to watch, you know,
so. Oh yeah, it's always stressful.
It's always fun to get out of. Your comfort zone, absolutely.
It really is. It really is.
It can be very stressful, but honestly those situations where
you're super and like learning those things about yourself is
where you really succeed and where you did.
You win. I did win.
You did win. You did?
Yeah. So how how many weeks were you
competing? It was 4 weeks.
Sometimes we would have two weeks in between.
So I went across like 2 months, but the first two weeks were
back-to-back, which that was probably the hardest, the
hardest of the weeks as it went on.
Then we had like 2 weeks in between which gave you more time
to prepare and stuff. The hardest part about drag
actually is the money I mean. You're dragging cheap.
Yeah, drag is not good. Dragging.
Cheap. Good, that part good.
Drag is. Not cheap because you're young.
You can make it cheap. Goodwill exists.
Yeah, good. Whatever good drag is not.
Yeah, good. Drag is not cheap.
And if you want to really represent yourself and, and and
go out there, not only is drag not cheap, but you need people
behind you. You know you need friends.
You need you 'cause you look about 12 years old.
I I just might be no, I'm 23, so you're.
A little kid. Very young, very, very well.
You're not very new. You're a young man, but you
look, but you, you, you look young.
Thank you. Which is good.
You know, very good. Yeah.
You won't look young forever. You're I right, Right.
Enjoy it while while I can, while it lasts.
Yeah, yeah, it's. Like Twink, death is right
around the corner. Right, that 30 is coming that 30
is causing. Twink death.
I don't even understand what that is.
He's like counting the numbers down.
Yeah, no, I I've said multiple times, twink death occurs at 26.
That's what they all say. I am, but they really don't say
that. It's really more like 30.
It's right, Right. I, I can't tell you how many gay
men over the course of my life, when I asked them their age and
they lower their I've seen them, they lower their eyes, they
lower their head, they look around and go, what is it?
Well, I mean, I've heard outrageous things like I don't
want to say just tell me I'm 3434 and you're acting like it's
the it's so sad to me. I I really think my generation
is not like that. I hope not.
I know I'm truly excited to get older. 34 is not old.
I know 44 is not old, and let me say 54 and 64 is not old.
It really is a matter of your energy level.
Do you feel good? Are you?
Are you moving and shaking? Are you out there doing stuff
till you're not an old person? Absolutely, Absolutely.
I know 80 year olds that are moving around like they're 40
year olds. Yeah, I know them.
I'm excited to get older because I, I wanna, I wanna figure
figure out those things about myself, figure out the things
that I'm confused about. So where was this event take
place at? Where did it take place?
It was. At Anthem in downtown Orlando,
which is actually a newer gay bar, which is pretty cool.
Is it big? It's actually not too big.
It's a pretty small venue, I will be honest.
But I mean, hey, I I'll take what I can get with Orlando.
We don't, we don't have many gay bars and we're actually, I feel
like we're losing them, unfortunately so.
People keep saying that gay bars are.
Dying, Yep, I, I, I see that and, and it's, it's actually
really unfortunate because it's like I've always looked up to my
local entertainers and my local drag Queens, but it's so hard
now because it's like I even see them seeing it, not like it was
clubs and bars aren't like I've been doing.
This a long time and I know, yeah, I know.
I've. I've 50 years, Yeah, I've been
doing this for 50 years. So in 50 years I've seen a lot
of changes. Yeah, you know, but I remember
when there were just two bars in Tampa, that was it was nothing
else, just two bars. I know.
So you know. One of the things that I
remember, I've had this conversation with multiple
people, especially older people, is that some people, especially
my generation, feel a little bit more comfortable just, you know,
going to straight places. Do you feel as though that might
be the case? Miss Esme?
So. I really feel so in Ebor.
I do feel that way. So in Ebor, they're very
accustomed to trans people and the drag.
I could be in high drag and go to any straight bar or or or
cigar shop 'cause I like to smoke cigar.
Personally, I went to to Crowbar to see M the other week and I
felt very, I felt very safe. I felt.
Yeah, it's, I mean. That's a good.
Thing that is a good thing. Yeah.
Well, the, the, the, the Ebor crowd is very chill.
They can't be bothered with you. I could.
I could dress. Depends on when.
What time? Yeah, depends on what time of
day. I could be dressed up as a clown
and they couldn't be bothered, which is, you know, magical
because that's how it is in big cities.
I remember going to New York and being on the subway in high drag
after I'd worked at a gay club there in Las Quelita.
And when I was coming home to the hotel in the subway at 3:00
in the morning, the subway's packed with people at 3:00 in
the morning. Nobody even looked at me.
Nobody even blinked. And I had on a lot of drag
making fun. And I'm thinking to myself,
you'd think I'd be staring at, right.
So it really is a situational. Some places, you know, it's a
big deal. And I remember back in the 80s
and in the late 70s and early 80s, it was, it really was like
if you were in drag and you went anywhere, it was like an ordeal.
Oh absolutely. I mean it.
It still really is like that now if you go to a normal.
Establishment like a. Target or a or a Walmart, right?
You can't walk in there without being looked at sideways.
Obviously, depending where you're at.
I've. Never been in high drag inside
of a Walmart or anything. You know what?
Just like I just. Just an Esme drag, you know?
Yeah, which Which is nothing I. I think that anybody would go if
you're dressed to the nines, like if you're wearing a suit in
the middle of like a target, you're going to get like people
looking at you. I went to Pasco Pride after an
event when I was interning for Michelle Rainer and I was in my
suit and I was, you know, shaking hands with people,
talking to people and everything like that.
And people looked at me weird. So I think that, you know, it
really depends on, you know, definite location.
But I, I honestly feel like a lot of people will get looked
at. We just can't look good these
days. We can't look good.
We can't go out and look good anymore.
Well, we're in Florida and you know, Florida is a very chill
state as far as how we dress people.
This is really flip flops and jeans and shorts and this is how
we dress here even in the winter time, right?
So if anybody dresses up, it's like, where are you going?
You know what I mean? What do you do with all this
fabric on you? Is exactly correct.
So, yeah. But you know, you know, I
remember people used to back in the day.
I remember people used to dress up to go to clubs.
That is actually a very interesting topic because it's
like now the dressing up is very like show skin, like, oh, I'm
going out, you know, but like, but it's such a like I always
see videos from back in the day, like thousands, like the polos
and the yeah, it was dressing up to look good to go to the club.
We've taken it too far. When we were off the air, I was
telling you about these judges now that are cracking down on
people showing up in their courtrooms right in shorts and
flip flops. I mean, you know, you don't go
before for a judge in shorts and AT shirt and flip flops.
You, you're going to jail. That's the.
That's the thing about. It you're going to jail,
literally I'm. Serious, You really want to go
to jail though? It's it's a matter of respect.
If I'm going to go before a judge, I'm going to dress up.
I'm going to be appropriately dressed with me.
I have boob age, so I'm going to cover my business.
I'm not going to go in there sexy with cleavage trying to
work it in front of no judge. OK, 'cause you want to show
respect, you know, Same thing with church.
People that go to church. I, I have a friend of mine that
says he's in his church. People wear flip flops.
I'm like flip flops in church. Oh my God, I can't imagine.
I'm sorry but I can't do that. And it's respecting yourself
too. You know what I mean?
Yourself and others. It's about like how you want to
be put out in the world. I kept saying it earlier when we
started the show. We gotta do better, man.
Come on, we gotta do better. We all gotta do better all.
Gotta do. All gotta do better.
Meanwhile, last time I was in a church I wore a shirt that says
I'm so gay I poop rainbows. Did you really?
Wow. But it wasn't poop.
It wasn't poop. It's a It's a different word
that we can't say on air. Chris, I cannot believe you wore
that smite me, Chris, I would have been I would first of all,
I wouldn't have sat next to you, right?
No, I'm a person of faith. I would have been like, if that
light, you know, we're, we're in the lightning capital of the
world. Here's.
The Tampa Bay area he. Said don't say next to that you
are. And I'm thinking to myself, if
one of those lightning bolts comes through that window and
hits, I'm not God might miss me. Miss him?
That is too funny. Remember, there's a saying that
you've heard it before. You're guilty by association.
Oh, absolutely, my dad. Used to tell me.
Tell me who he did. Tell me who you're hanging
around with and I'll tell you who you are.
That is so no. That is so good.
With his rainbow shirt that says
he poops rainbows. Like I know who you're hanging.
Around. I know you're joking.
You didn't wear that to church. I have no comment anyways Lexi,
so how did you get into drag? How I got into drag.
So actually, funny enough, I started playing with drag back
in my bedroom in Maryland where I grew up.
It was one of those things where it was never really allowed.
But as a kid, I always found myself sneaking into my sister's
makeup and putting it on and, and feeling the fantasy in the
mirror. And then as you grow older, you
just realize you're like, wait, there's something in your body.
Just, you just have to do it right.
Like you. As I get older, I realize that
like, I'm not happy unless I'm doing drag, unless I'm
expressing myself in this way, you know, so.
It's not just dressing and drag, you know.
No, I always tell people that drag is a form of
self-expression. Yes, but it's also very
creative. Absolutely.
It is it. Takes your brain to a place,
nothing else. Can you have to get magically
inclined? You have to create a makeup and
costumes and yeah, it's it's not for everyone, obviously.
Oh no, but that. But that's the point of art.
There's there's so much there's art is a variety, right?
And this is just one little spectrum of of art.
So drag is drag is something that is I, I don't know, it's,
it's very unique and it's something that I'm, I've always
been so drawn to because it encapsulates everything I've
always loved. I love hair, I love makeup.
I love performing right. So in so during Shakespearean
time, a young man of your age would play female roles.
Right. Yeah, and, you know, we forget
that today was very normal for men to get in drag.
You'd be a good Juliet, huh? I.
Said you'd be a good Juliet. First Juliet I love was a guy.
A young boy isn't. That where the the name Drag
comes from, right? Dressed as a girl 'cause
they're. Dragging their there's several
there's several definitions. One of them is dressed as a girl
drag. Dressed as a.
Girl, yeah. And the other one is is that the
during the vaudevillian times, the drag Queens would they were
very flamboyant, right? That's where the word queen came
from. They carry themselves like they
run the show, right? So, but the drag part was a
drag. They would drag these big
rolling like, what is it like cases like it's like a big like
a big box. And they?
Would put all their costumes in the box and then they drag it
across the floor. It was before they had wheels on
them, I guess, You know, so you could hear the sound of it being
scraped across the. Yeah.
A glorified drag queen suitcase A.
Glorified drag. Yeah.
So I love it. Yeah, so.
I always thought it was like the way their their gowns would drag
behind them or their outfits. Would drag behind another
definition. There's so many definitions of
it that we don't know, yeah. That is so.
But yeah, yeah, I started drag in Maryland and I never really
got out until he moved to Orlando because Orlando really
is a a welcoming space for that and I found my I really found
myself here or in Orlando. It'll.
Be so interesting that that Florida would be that drag, sort
of. It always has been.
It always has been, and I find that the most conservative
states have some of the best drag.
Texas has great drag. It's a protest.
It really is a. Protest.
It is a protest. Yeah, Yeah.
They've tried everything to ban it.
And the drag Queens find a way. You know, even in communist
countries where drag is illegal, like for a long time in Cuba, it
was illegal to do drag back in the 70s and and 60s.
And the drag Queens would just do.
They would do private shows like in people's houses and invite
all their friends. Yeah, it's not illegal now, but.
But that's what I don't think people realize is like, no
matter how how much you're gonna try to get rid of something,
yeah, no one's gonna get rid of it.
We're just gonna get, really. Good at hiding it.
It's the same thing. You can make you.
You can't police people into not existing.
It just doesn't. That part it does not part.
It doesn't. It just is not gonna work.
It'll never. Happen.
There's always been gay people. Yeah, there's always been dogs.
There's. There always will be.
Yes, yes, it is what it is. So Lexie, where do you, you're
obviously really young, where do you want to go with drag?
Do you have like a sort of plan that you want to do?
I think with drag, it's one of those things where you kind of,
I have to see where it takes you almost.
But I, I, I want to continue furthering my furthering my
career, continuing to meet people, continuing to learn from
people. I, I do drag because I love
drag. Really at the end of the day, I
love going to drag shows. I love seeing drag and.
Do the people at work know what you do?
You know what some of them do? It's one of those things where I
don't outwardly go and tell people, you know, But you know,
if I have to give away a shift, I might be like, hey, you know,
I have a gig I have to go to and This is why I can't be here.
But for the most part, I'm not out here just like saying it
because I, I do realize that some it's, it's actually funny
because it can be two reactions, right?
One person can be like, oh, okay.
And then kind of like give you that reaction, which is like, I
would rather just avoid that than even go there.
And then the other one is almost like, Oh my gosh, like what do
you do? What do you want to see it?
That's so cool. And like they ask you all about
it and then it can get, it can get a little, I don't know out
there. And you're like, I have to
explain everything. The fear of drag Queens is
really weird. It's very, but it's it's a fear
of femininity. It really is I.
Or a or a rejection of masculinity.
Or a rejection of. Masculinity.
Yeah. I can't figure out which one it
is. It's, it's a very interesting
topic because it's like I, I don't, it's bred into men very
young to, to reject so much of what is feminine, right?
And sometimes it's not even if things are categorized feminine
that are barely even feminine, right?
And so it's really bizarre how they can they, they, they see
one thing and, and you run with it, right?
You see one thing and run. I say the same thing about drag
Queens that I say about gay marriage.
If you don't like gay marriage, just don't marry a gay person.
You would think that they would have gotten that by now.
Just don't marry a gay person you don't like.
Gay marriage? You're not.
And that's fine, because gay marriage and the and the drag
Queens is the same thing. If you don't like drag Queens,
just don't go to a Don't. Go to a drug show.
That's it. Just don't go and that's it.
Trust me, we're not out here everywhere.
No, no, no. And I'm not going to come to
your house and perform, No. And I know you're not either, so
you know what I'm saying. I can probably name about 5 or 6
venues that are in the area that actually go ahead and have drag
Queens. Everybody else is just they do
whatever the hell they want to do.
Yes. Well, Miss Esme, what are we
going to talk about when we come back?
Chris, you know that I had for the last two weeks, even though
we've been here alone, I've been a slacker about these topics.
But I do have a couple that I did write down.
I know you have a lot more than I do.
And one of them is this son. His parents are having family
guests over and he refuses to give up his bedroom to the
guests. Interesting, that's a good one.
Kid, he's a little kid. He's like a little.
Young, he's a laughing. Oh, I thought we were talking
about like. So I, I'm wondering what would
you do? How do you feel about that?
If you're a parent? Cause a lot of people say this
is about our house. You, you fought.
But I'm going to tell you this family is kind of, they're upset
with him 'cause I'll tell you the whole circumstances of it,
but I just wanted you to think about that.
What would you do 'cause I'm I'm on the kids side.
I'll tell you what happened, but I'm on the kids side.
Yeah, I want to hear more. That's exciting.
Also, I saw the movie The Mandalorian.
Yeah, I did. And and Grogu, by the way, you
got to say The Mandalorian and Grogu.
I didn't know this. And and I really, I have some
things thoughts on it because it's getting some negative press
a little bit and I'm going to share with what I think about
it. Well, I got also, of course,
that Tampa Bay teacher that was arrested after she made a one
student slap another student. We have Democratic candidates
arrested at the Florida governor's office.
There's a lawsuit targeting a whites only Arkansas community
after applicant claims that she was rejected for Jewish roots
and her black husband. And then also Trump gun.
And Trump says that the gunman who opened fire at the White
House checkpoint had a possible obsession with the executive
mansion. We got all that and more coming
up after the break. But first, let's go over and
throw it over to Claire Leeson from Project No Labels for our
LGBTQ news. And then over to Joanna Grasso
for Joe on the go. We'll be right back.
I'm Claire Leeson from Project No Labels and this is your LGBTQ
plus news from around the country and right here in Tampa
Bay in national news from Watermark Out News, the US House
of Representatives passed a federal don't say trans bill on
May 20th that critics say Wood forest teachers to out
transgender students to their parents.
The legislation would require schools to obtain parental
consent before allowing students to use their preferred name,
pronouns and gender markers and would restrict federal funding
for schools that teach concepts related to what the bill calls
gender ideology. Supporters argue parents should
direct conversations around gender identity, while opponents
warn the bill could place transgender students in in safe
situations at home and increase the risk of harassment, abuse or
conversion therapy. The measure passed mostly along
party lines, with eight Democrats joining Republicans in
support. In Winter Park from West Orange
County, deputies announced the arrest of Allen Chambers, a
former leader of the now defunct conversion therapy organization
Exodus International. Investigators say Chambers
believed he was communicating online with a 14 year old boy
who was an undercover detective. He now faces charges including
solicitation of a minor in of harmful material to a minor.
Chambers previously made national headlines in 2013 when
he apologized to the LGBTQ community for the harm caused by
Exodus International before the organization shut down in
Colorado. From PBS The state Supreme Court
has ordered Children's Hospital Colorado to resume gender
affirming medical care for transgender minors.
The hospital had paused treatments earlier this year
amid pressure and investigations tied to the Trump
administration's policies surrounding transgender health
care for transgender girls sued the the hospital, arguing the
suspension violated Colorado's anti discrimination laws and
place their mental health at risk.
In a 5 to 2 ruling, the court sided with the families, saying
that immediate harm faced by the patients outweighed potential
federal consequences for the hospital.
And finally, from The Associated Press Former Congressman Barney
Frank has died at the age of 86. Frank served in Congress for
more than three decades and became one of the nation's most
prominent openly gay political leaders.
Known for his sharp wit and outspoken advocacy, he helped
bring national his ability to LGBTQ rights while also playing
a major role in shaping financial reform legislation
following the 2008 economic crisis.
Frank is survived by his husband, Jim Reddy, along with
his siblings and extended family.
Please remember to stay safe and treat yourself and others with
kindness. This has been your LGBTQ plus
news for the Big Gay Radio show. I'm Claire Leeson on 88.5 WMNF
Tampa. Hey, hey Tampa Bay, it's Joanna
Grosso with Joe on the Go Tampa Bay, your weekly guide to what's
happening around the city. Here's what's happening this
week. Starting on Sunday, May 31st,
Cool Vibes Hub and Grub in Saint Pete is hosting a drag brunch
bingo benefiting the Never Say Never Foundation beginning at 11
AM. Expect bingo, drag performances,
brunch vibes and a fun afternoon supporting a great 'cause.
Then on Thursday, June 4th, the Royalty Pride Art Show opening
reception takes place at Saint Petersburg City Theatre from
5:00 to 8:00 PM. The event will feature local
artists like food and drinks in a night centered around
creativity, community, and a Pride season celebration.
And on Sunday, June 7th over in Ybor, Wigs and Witt returns to
Tampa Bay at the Commodore at 7:00 PM.
The show brings comedians and drag Queens head to head for a
live talent competition where the audience helps decide the
winner. For more information behind the
scenes and weekly updates, follow along on Instagram at Joe
on the Go Tampa Bay. Have a great week, Tampa Bay,
and I'll see you out and about. Get social with us, Like us on
Facebook. Just search for the big gay
radio show. Welcome back to the Big Gay
Radio Show. My name is Chris Gorman.
I'm your show twink here, joined by Miss Esme Russell.
How you doing, Boo? God, you called me Boo.
You know, that is one of the things that I've never, I don't
get into that Boo thing. People say that's my Boo.
I always say, is that a ghost? Spooky.
Is that your ghost? Anyways, we're also joined by
Lexi Long, Orlando Drag Race Live Season 10 winner.
Welcome into the studio. Hello, hello, hello.
So happy to be here. We are so happy to have you.
Well, Miss Esme, wait, we teased this before a little bit before
on the on the beginning of the show.
But a Manatee County 6th grade teacher was arrested after
deputies said she ordered one student to slap another student
during class. Investigators say Judith Clark,
64, repeatedly asked the class who wants to slap him after a
student kept talking when no students volunteered.
Deputies say Clark told two students to close the classroom
blinds and directed another student to hit the boy.
Witnesses told investigators the student gently slapped the
classmate across the face with an open hand.
The student who carried out the slap later told detectives he
was afraid to disobey the teacher.
Happened on May 13th at Lee Middle School in Manatee County.
Interesting because my my kitchen's name is Lee.
Stand these people. How did they get these jobs?
And, and I could, I could already picture it.
We're having an investigation. So she district officials said
she began working at the school in 2019 and was already
scheduled to leave the job May 29th.
Well, she needs to go. Oh my gosh.
But I'm going to be honest with you, isn't there some legal
inciting minors? That's not just losing a job,
Yeah. I I, I kind of think like she
could be charged with something. So that's what that's sort of
what Nina the, the, the parent of the teacher that or parent of
the student with the, the teacher that hung the black baby
doll. That's sort of what she's trying
to fight for. And that's what she started the
GoFundMe was so that she can start more investigations into
what's been happening because she feels as though things like
this have been covered under the rug.
And obviously, you know, she might not be too far off on.
That seeing with the black baby doll this, which is a separate
incident with a teacher, OK, we're dealing here with a
history in this country of black people being hung.
This is absolutely horrific. Right.
And that behavior should be punished on some level.
We got to do something. People just can't do these
things and get away with it. And it was done in front of
minors. I don't even understand where
one operators brain even go to that I.
Like I don't need I, I got chills from head to toe just
even talking about it. I got so upset last week after I
left this show that when I thought about talking about I'm
getting upset again, it's like I'm I'm.
It's so upsetting to me. You know what's wrong with
these? People, I don't, I, I, I
personally don't even understand how one's brain would even go to
that place to even make those actions, to do that in front of
children. But I think that there's gotta
be some kind of legal something, something that we could do.
Is it is it AI don't know if is it a form of well, it's like a
threat if I take. Oh.
Absolutely. It's a, it's a threat.
I'm. Endangering children almost.
I mean, like, yeah. It's a racial threat.
Yeah, right. Yeah.
So, and she, the mom was saying that the kids traumatized.
Of course the kid is traumatized.
I'm, I wasn't there. I just saw it on video and I'm
traumatized and I'm upset about it, you know, 'cause I try to
revert myself to being that age. And you're an adult.
And I'm an adult and I'm thinking, wow, when I was that
age, I looked up to my teachers so much.
And you know, even the ones that I was kind of scared of 'cause
they were like disciplinarians, right, 'cause I, I like to talk
a lot, 'cause I would always get in trouble that would get.
No, really. Yeah, that would get in trouble.
Don't get in trouble for talking, you know.
But but I had such respect for my teachers that to have a
teacher do something so horrific and then this other one.
Now with the slapping, what is wrong with you?
Slapping is wild. Well, another story to go ahead
and ruffle your feathers, Miss Esme.
A federal lawsuit says an Arkansas group promoting a
whites only community rejected a white Christian woman because
she had Jewish ancestry, a black husband and biracial children.
The woman, Michelle Walker, says the group's an application asked
the detailed questions about ancestry, religion and race
before ultimately telling her she was not an ideal fit for the
community. The lawsuit targets Returned to
the Land, a white nationalist group based in rural Ravenden,
Arkansas, where members say they want to preserve white American
culture. Walker says she was interested
in buying land in the Ozarks because prices were low and she
vacationed in the area. According to the complaint, she
disclosed that part of her family were Russian Jewish
immigrants and that her husband is of Irish and African descent.
The suit says members of the group later asked whether she
belonged to any other white nationalist organization.
So Esme well. I I was thinking I couldn't be a
part of that group. Here's why not only am I I am of
of of of of Latino descent. My mother and father were born
in in Cuba. So I'm of Cuban.
I'm, I am American, but my parents were born in Cuba.
But so, but also I have so many black friends, Chinese friends,
Muslim friends. You know, I would be a hypocrite
if I joined that those people. Absolutely.
Let's say that I was white. Let's say that I wasn't a brown
skin person. Let's say that I was white and I
went there and I joined a bit was a part of that group, but I
could slip in. I would feel terrible guilt
because all my friends are ethnic.
It's, it's also one of those things where it's like, how
could you even feel comfortable in that space ever expressing
something different about yourself or if you're ever
feeling, how are you feeling welcome to say anything about
who you are like. I'll be honest, I don't want to
be a part of a group like that, right?
It isn't even, it isn't like I'm going to even think about it.
I just, this is 2026 and I feel like sometimes we've taken some
steps backwards in some situations.
People are, people are. So they're surrounded by these
little communities of people and that's just the world they're
in. And they don't even sometimes
realize, like how wild their mindset is on these things.
I like, I like looking at my friends and seeing the colors of
the rainbow. Yes, I think I have such
fascinating friends. I have gay friends, I have
straight friends, I have trans friends.
Isn't. That the point of friends I
have. Muslim, Arabic.
I have so many different guys. I really have a cool smorgasbord
of friends, yes, like I really do, and I love that.
But that's the point of having friends, is having variety.
Why would you want to be stagnant and be the same, the
same, same, same? What's the how?
How can you grow? We are, we are a multicultural
society. I know there are people that
want us not to be, but it's too late for that.
We're a melting pot, baby. It's.
Too late. Yeah, we've always been.
There, intermingled with each other.
You know what I'm saying? It's it's too late.
But we've always been that, you know what I mean?
It's. Like we're really that now.
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
I was just speaking to have an Indian friend that she made me,
oh she made me some a lamb with Curry.
So Oh my God, it was so good. And you would have never had
that if you weren't her friends. Absolutely not, because I don't
know how to make that stuff exactly.
Yeah, yeah. So yeah, I don't know we.
That's why I like doing this show so much, is that we have so
many different unique voices. We have you as a trans Cuban
woman, myself, obviously white, black, white, white man.
We have Brian, who's a black man.
We've got Joanna, who's a, a cisgender woman.
We've got a very diverse group. Vin is a yeah, an Asian trans
man. It's very important to go ahead
and showcase the diversity of, you know, the, our culture.
We are, we are very diverse culture.
Clearly you know. Our diversity is a strength.
That's really what's really saved.
Not a weakness. Yes, yes, absolutely.
What? Bothers me most about this story
is if white people wanted to preserve white American culture,
why did you bring black people here in the first freaking
place? For slavery, of course.
But. Jesus Christ, you are the reason
why that's, that's the American culture, right there is slavery
and discrimination. That is American culture, Yeah.
Unfortunately, our history. So that's what they're trying to
preserve. I keep saying it all through the
shows as we started today, and I think I'm just gonna we gotta do
better. We gotta do better.
We gotta do. Better.
Oh my goodness. But they'll, but they'll never
hear that. They'll never hear that because
that's why they're stuck where they are, because they don't
want change. That's actually a big problem.
They don't want change. I don't want to be a part of
anybody that just wants white people.
Oh absolutely. I don't want to be a part of
that. Don't get me wrong, I love my
white friends, right? You know?
But we're all children of God. At least that's what I was
taught when I was. We're one human family, one
human family. We just got that text message
and from from a person who does not signing his last whose name
it is, but we just got that. We are one human family and we
need to embrace that. And I'll continue to say this,
our diversity is our strength. That is something that when we
were doing all this stuff, we recently went to space, right?
And we went, we went around the moon.
It was one of the things that the astronauts said they were
looking back at Earth and they were like, I've never felt so
unified. You're looking at this Earth and
you're just like, we're all just here on this Earth, you know,
it's really that simple. It's really that simple, so.
We are, and as a little kid, where was that?
Jesus loves a little children. He used to sing that to that one
lady. Red and yellow, black and white,
they are precious in his sight. Jesus.
Anyways, as maybe it's not Bible study.
My point is that even from a little kid, we were told our
diversity is our strange. Oh my goodness, I don't know
where. Little children, We're not going
to change the rules now, folks. Anyways, a Florida State
Representative Angie Nixon and a Democratic U.S.
Senate candidate was arrested after taking part in a sit in
protest at Governor Ron DeSantis office for office over Florida's
congressional maps. Nixon and several other
protesters were later released after the demonstration.
The protests focused on claims that the Florida's new
congressional districts aren't unfairly drawn to favor
Republicans. Nixon called the maps rigged and
accused DeSantis and the Republican LED legislator of
playing politics with people's lies.
I agree and. That's called good trouble.
Yes, oh absolutely, it is causing good trouble right
there. Right.
Yeah, it's a modern, modern saying for.
Oh, it was so the person who's been texting in is Jackie over
in Clearwater. She's been a teacher for over 35
years for for 35 years and she agrees.
We are all children of God. We I completely agree.
I'm. So glad that we got a teacher
out there that's doing her job and she knows that.
I'm a son of a teacher, but that's.
What I want I want a teacher that when she looks at her
classroom, she sees all her students equally.
All of them are children of God. Yes.
Even if you don't believe in God, you can still see them as
equal to each other. These are all children.
They're just we're people. That's.
It we're people, we're. Just people, that's it.
People. All right, well, Pinellas County
Commissioner Kathleen Peters says she wants to stop data
centers from being built in the county, citing concerns about
rising demand for water and electricity.
This is over in Pinellas County. Peters say the said county staff
have been approached about a possible data center project
somewhere along Gandy Blvd. though no formal proposal has
been submitted. The proposed location would give
developers easy access to water for evaporative cooling systems,
which could require millions of gallons of water a day.
Peters argued data centers do not create enough jobs to
justify their impact, saying data centers are not a job
creator. She said Florida should focus
instead on workforce development, low taxes and
maintaining a business business friendly climate.
I agree. I and and and and the if as long
as it's an AI data center, I think that there are medical
data centers are absolutely necessary.
You can, can, you can't, you can't have a medical field
without going ahead and having the data center.
You have to have that. But if it's for something as
simple as AI, then I don't, I don't, I don't think there's a
need for it. I, I, I've seen people go ahead
and start using AI for like good various Flyers and stuff like
that. And I, I just, I don't like the
idea that I'm making something just to go ahead and waste the
water when I can go ahead and just simply make the flyer
myself. Like I I if I wanted to
wastewater I'll just drink a gallon of water a day.
I fully agree. It's been ruining communities.
These like giant plants. It's it's very sad to see.
It's also sad to see because it's like we're almost losing
faith in each other as as we're just talking about we're just
humans, right? And now we're losing faith in
each other and putting so much weight in this technology that's
separating us. Even the Pope is sending he's
just this week. So the Pope sent out of a.
Warning about AI, you know, it's a little scary.
I talked about it last week and I always say the same thing
because you know, I'm a sci-fi nut, right?
So I always say, why hasn't anybody watched any of the James
Cameron Terminator movies? It doesn't end well, folks.
There's only. One ending here, when AI is
infiltrated into the computer system, the ending is always the
same. We are removed from the
equation. They don't see they're so
addicted to the convenience. Everyone's so addicted to the
convenience right now. Even in the even the movie 2001,
which was a movie I couldn't last week I couldn't name, and
we figured it out this week that it was the computer how on board
the ship saw humans as a virus. See, this is where we are
getting scary. This is where we're.
Getting scary threat to its existence so it became
uncooperative. See, this is scary.
No, that's very scary. This is very scary.
It. Is scary it is scary because AI,
once it becomes self aware then we're talking about it starts to
make plans yeah you know what I'm saying you don't need a
computer making plans about us because.
Are y'all not scared? That is so scary.
I just, I just don't like the the, I mean, where, where we're
currently standing in it with AI, at least just using it just
to make a flyer or using it to enhance your photos or something
along those lines. I mean, what you knowing that
it's costing water? I mean, it, it's an it's a fact.
It's a fact. It's.
Causing water shortage in this place.
It is a massive water shortage happening now.
I know we're surrounded by water.
And but it's not drinkable water, but it's.
Not drinkable water. Yeah.
So it's we got a problem here. Absolutely.
We got a. Problem and we're just not.
But again, in all these movies, sci-fi movies, if you watch the
human race is warned over and over and over and but nobody
listens. No one listens.
Oh, it won't happen. It'll be another 100 years
before that happens. Watch Wally.
Yeah, Wally's alone. I loved Wally too.
Wally's another one. These movies are very
foretelling, right? And we just.
Oh, it's just a movie. Well, you know, Flip Bones were
just a movie. And now we've had, we've had, we
had them, you know, it's just crazy.
I don't know. I don't know.
God help us. Well, Senate Republicans are
expected to drop a $1 billion White House security proposal
tied to President Donald Trump's planned ballroom after pushback
from members of their own party. The proposal had been folded
into a roughly $70 billion bill to restore funding for ICE and
the Border Patrol, but several GOP lawmakers questioned the
timing, price tag and use of taxpayer money.
About $220 million of the request was tied directly to
security upgrades connected to the ballroom project, with the
rest aimed at visitor screening, training and other Secret
Service needs. Senate Majority Leader John
Thune said that there were ongoing vote issues as
Republicans struggled to lock down, support and navigate
Senate rules. Senator John Kennedy said the
bill was back to square one once it became clear the votes for
the security funding were not there.
So I guess that's that's good news for you, Miss Esme I.
Know, but I'm going to tell you the truth, these people are
desperately, and I mean the administration is desperately
coming up with the arch and the fountain and the statue and let
me put my name on everything. You know, listen, regular folks
out here are struggling. Yes.
Go to the grocery store. I don't want to hear.
I don't want to hear nothing about no Trump.
Forget Trump. Go to the grocery store.
We got a problem. It's not even about politics,
it's about what's happening in front of us.
This is regular people. Regular people got to feed
themselves. We got the kids got to eat,
right. People got to eat.
It is so crazy. Gasoline prices.
Oh my goodness, that is a whole nother.
Up and up and it doesn't stop. There's no end insight.
And it seems like they just don't care.
And he says, he said the other day on the White House lawn, he
goes, I don't even think about the prices and stuff.
That's not that's not something I worry about.
I. Saw that?
Well, that's. Because you're a billionaire.
But the rest of us do have to worry about it.
Right, right. You're not in our shoes.
I get it, you don't think about it 'cause it's not your problem.
But he should be thinking about it.
Created this problem. But he should be thinking about
it. Bringing up Biden, I said
Biden's not in office, folks, right?
I ain't seen Biden in that office in a good minute.
You're the only one making these decisions.
Why are you trying to deflect? Why are you trying to deflect?
I don't it is so wild. We got a problem.
I'm going to tell you the price of food is really bad and it's
getting super bad and regular people cannot, you know, regular
people are struggling the. Price of survival, actually,
yeah, survival. It's great.
The rent prices every. I don't know, the prices of food
keeps going up, but my hunger doesn't go down.
That. Part.
You know what I'm saying? Oh my God, my.
Hunger ain't going down. Like right now.
I'm sitting here thinking, man, I would like me a good good old
meatball sub. I'd like a good old juicy
meatball sub right now. I know you like your balls.
Anyways. WWE wrestler Ludwig Ludwig
Kaiser, whose real name is Marcel Barthel, was arrested
after Orlando police say he attacked a neighbor following a
confrontation in an apartment elevator near Lake Eola.
Eola Police say the victim complained after seeing Barthel
and a woman aggressively kissing and act on acting uncontrollably
intimate inside the elevator. According to the arrest
affidavit, the the victim told the couple to please have some
manners after getting off the elevator.
Investigators say Barthel then punched the man several times,
pushed him to the ground outside of the elevator on the 12th
floor of the building. Officers reported seeing fresh
scratches and redness on the back of the victim's head that
match the account of a physical fight as may Have you ever been
uncontrollably intimate inside of an elevator?
No, but I, I can understand that when you're so physically
attracted to someone. When I was really young, I
remember being, you know, being with men that I was very
physically attracted to and we'd be making out.
And sometimes you just can't stop yourself, you know what I
mean? It just.
I can understand it. I, I just, yeah.
But I but we, we gotta act like adults, folks.
Right. You know, it's, it's back to
that. What's wrong with people?
I was literally thinking that as we're as he's reading you like
what's wrong with you? I understand you're hot for each
other, but come on man. Respect for others.
So I get it.
But but, but I'm not now who, who, who caused the act of
violence the guy did. Yeah, the guy said to have some
manners and then you attacked him and then the wrestler
attacked. Him.
OK, so I'm gonna tell you now, folks, you know, I have a line
and I'm gonna, and I say it all the time and I, and I say this,
keep your hands to yourself. Don't put your hands on folks,
'cause I'm telling you, these folks are carrying guns.
These folks will fight back. People are not playing anymore.
Leave folks alone. I understand that you don't like
what they're doing. I get it.
It's very uncomfortable. Report them.
There's gotta be enough, but keep your hands.
What happened to just like a dirty look or just like like a
side eye or? Like or just say or 'cause I
would have said ladies, y'all really need to get a room.
Or that part. Yes, seriously honest and
seriously. This is this is uncalled for in
a public place. Yeah, you know, I can see that.
I I was speaking to an Uber driver the other day, but he was
telling me that he can't count the times that people have
attempted to have sex in the back seat of his car.
Oh my goodness. And I thought to myself, really?
He goes yeah, he said, yeah, I said male and female goes male
and female, sometimes two women, sometimes two men and.
We talked about this last week. Oh yeah.
Oh wow, this is the hot topic. I mean, come on, I don't know.
I'd never even thought of a thing.
I never even thought people were people were trying to get get a
room. Seriously.
Like an adult be. Respectful.
I want to go ahead and make sure to give a special shout out to
Deborah Brown who's over in it doesn't say anyways, she's goes
to Allendale United Methodist Church and they have a drag
service every 5th Sunday. And they said it is fabulous and
that Pastor Andy Oliver will marry gay couples and that they
are a church for everyone. And I love Pastor Andy.
We've had him on the show. We it was, I think it was during
Christmas. And no, I completely agree.
Yes, it's a nice demeanor about him.
Very intelligent voice too. Very intelligent.
I'm so loud and boisterous and he was so calm and reassured.
I'm happy to hear from someone in the church though, you know?
Yeah, that's, I love that. I love that.
Yeah, I think I I love that. I love that.
But we got one more time. I got time.
Forget that to do the review on The Mandalorian.
Do you want to do that? Well, we've only got 6 minutes.
Well, let me do The Mandalorian right now.
Yeah, The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is just the cutest little
movie. It's almost like a kids movie.
Is it in theaters right now? Yeah, it is.
I know that people are have they're saying that it should.
It's almost like a it's not TVI think it's it's a good movie.
I liked it. And you can take the kids to go
see it. That's good to know.
It is. I haven't seen is there are
there more of these or? There's like ATV show, right?
OK, OK. But I'm gonna tell you, Grogu is
just adorable. He's just a little tiny Yoda
like figure, but he's just so listen, Disney does a great job
with these characters. I.
They give them the eyes, and they put the little glimmer in
their eyes. And their little hand and the
little purry, he goes, he's a little sound that he makes.
And he said, oh, he kind of hops around.
And when he walks, he walks with a little shuffle.
It's endearing, his. Little legs are so short, you
know, but he tries his little spaceship and he's just so cute.
I saw man, I'm telling you, that little character is just so
loving and adorable and and the Mandalorian is a is a great
character. He's brave and he's loyal and
he's a little bit of a rebel and a little bit rebellious.
You know, I, I enjoyed it a lot. I thought it was a great escape
movie. Definitely go see it.
And by the way, that movie that I reviewed last week, Obsession,
it's doing really good in the movie theaters.
But we still got time for what this last topic, and it is
because a quick one. The TSA has quietly updated its
policy to allow passengers to travel with doctor prescribed
medical marijuana in both carry on and checked bags.
The change matters because marijuana is still illegal under
federal law, even though medical cannabis is legal in 40 States
and Washington, DC. TSA says its officers are
focused on security threats, not searching for drugs during
screenings. But if agents find what they
believe is an illegal substance or evidence of a crime, they can
still refer travellers to law enforcement.
This policy comes as the Trump administration moved to
reclassify marijuana as a Schedule 3 drug.
Excuse me, Schedule 3 drug recognizing accepted medical
uses. I actually, I went up to, I, I'm
not going to do it. I would never do it.
I am not getting on no plane. I wouldn't get on a plane with
aspirin at this point. I wouldn't do it either.
Nope.
But when I went up to Ohio, I
did consider bringing a vape, but I didn't, I didn't, I'll put
that up. I'm.
Not even bringing cough medicine, but I will.
Since it is legal, I will say when I went up to Ohio and then
when I came back, I was unpacking my suitcase and there
was a vape that I left in my suitcase that went through TSA
both ways, both ways, both ways. And yeah, so I was very
surprised that I didn't get stopped.
And it was actually in one of the pockets of a backpack, like
one of the side cup holder pockets.
So you would think that they would have checked it.
You know what they? Didn't care when I flew to Saint
Louis a few years, not Saint Louis, Kentucky a few years
back. You know, they put me to that
search thing and they had to search me twice because they
thought I had an object. Well, they they also they had.
An an object. An object, I can't say what it
is on the air, but you have to figure it out.
But yeah. They also had to search me as
well, but they didn't search me for the weed, which was really
strange. And by the way, I want to put
this out there medical marijuana patient just letting everybody
know. But yeah, no, they they, they
searched me both ways and patted me down, but it they didn't
check my bag. Yeah.
And this is from state to state like.
From here to Ohio From here to Ohio, I'm.
Just going to tell you when you're unsure about something,
just don't do. It don't do it.
I wouldn't bring cough medicine on a damn up like.
Wake it up, I'm. Telling you I wouldn't do it.
I just wouldn't. I'm not risking nothing.
You know, things right now are so crazy in this country that I
don't want to. We don't need attention on us
that we don't. Need.
I don't want to create any problems for myself that I don't
need to. Well Esme, what?
What topics are we going to talk about on the after show?
Well, I don't have any topics for the after.
Show no I got. You're the one.
Oh, he's got plenty. I got plenty.
I got a man arrested after calling 911 to report zombies,
ghosts and UFOs. I also have a family accusing
Amazon that is saying that the urn that they were sent may have
had somebody else's ashes in. It.
We're going to talk about that. We have Southwest Airlines doing
something that Esme would like them to continue to do, which is
banning human like robots. No, I robot here.
And we also got we got Miley Cyrus receiving a a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame. Love it.
But Lexi, thank you so much for coming into the studio.
Where can people find more information about you and your
social media? Having me yes, I am the Lexi
long on Instagram, all my social medias.
I have a Facebook. She's actually not funny enough.
I never even knew about Tasha long until I moved here because
my my name I just made because I loved the name.
But yeah, I would love to meet her.
I would love to meet her. Tasha is an amazing.
Person. I wonder if she would approve of
me. She would.
Oh, she would.
She seems lovely. Well, we got all that and more
coming up on the Big Gay After Show.
But if first, if you haven't heard it already, you are loved,
you are appreciated and we thank you so much for your support of
WMNF Tampa and the Big Gay Radio Show.
Esme, I love you. Thank you so much for joining us
and we hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
This has been the big gay radio show on 88.5 WMNF Tampa.
Remember to stay kind and prideful, Tampa Bay.