Richmond Changemaker: Kevin Clay, a Legacy of LGBTQ Leadership
Richmond’s LGBTQ+ community has grown, thrived, and garnered national attention over the past decade. Much of that progress bears the mark of one of its most dedicated champions: Kevin Clay.
From pioneering queer media online to helping elevate Richmond as an LGBTQ+ friendly destination, Kevin’s impact on queer culture, visibility, and inclusion runs deep. Now, as he transitions from entrepreneur to destination storyteller with Richmond Region Tourism, we’re taking a moment to reflect on his journey and everything he’s done to make Richmond a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ folks and allies alike.
Long before Kevin became a widely recognized leader in Richmond’s queer scene, he was busy filling gaps in visibility and representation. In 2009, he founded GayRVA, Central Virginia’s first online media outlet dedicated to serving a queer audience and a platform that helped connect, inform, and amplify voices within Richmond’s queer ecosystem when few others existed.
It was an early indication of Kevin’s instincts: if the resources don’t exist, build them.
In 2013, Kevin launched Big Spoon Co., a PR and marketing agency rooted in creativity, community and purpose. Under his leadership, the agency became known not just for elevating brands, particularly in food and beverage, but for blending marketing savvy with cultural celebration and community connection.
Big Spoon Co. also became a certified minority- and LGBTQ-owned business, a point of pride for Kevin and a signal to Richmond that queer entrepreneurs could shape the city’s cultural conversation.
During his time growing Big Spoon, Kevin also steered important partnerships, including merging firms with fellow VCU alumni Enrique Mendez, making the two business partners. During this time, Kevin also used his food and beverage knowledge to boost local venues by creating RVA Dine & Drink, a Facebook group dedicated to promoting local spots during the pandemic. The group, which grew into a 165,000-member powerhouse, was credited with helping several businesses stay afloat during the COVID years.
In 2025, Kevin formally sold his stake in Big Spoon Co. to Enrique (now Big Spoon’s creative leader), marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
Kevin didn’t stop at business success. After founding the organization years earlier, life circled back around when he stepped into a civic leadership role with the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. As Executive Director, Kevin continued his work in supporting queer-owned and queer-friendly enterprises throughout Central Virginia.
Under his direction, the Chamber continued its mission– to enrich, uplift, and connect LGBTQ+ and allied professionals, something that resonates deeply with Kevin’s leadership ethos. His tenure culminated in a heartfelt farewell from the position, where he celebrated what the Chamber had achieved and set up others to build on that momentum.
Now, in his role as Communications Manager at Virginia Tourism Corporation with Richmond Region Tourism, Kevin is poised to bring that same energy to a broader audience, helping spotlight Richmond as a place where queer travelers don’t just visit, but feel at home.
Kevin Clay’s story is more than a career timeline. It’s a roadmap of how one person’s vision and dedication can shift culture, bring visibility to marginalized voices, and create tangible opportunities for community growth.
Whether building platforms, championing business visibility, guiding civic institutions, or inviting the world to see Richmond for who we really are, Kevin has consistently moved the needle, and made space for others to do the same.
Keep an eye on what’s next for Kevin and the queer community of Richmond. Because if the past decade is any indication, the best is yet to come.