big gay hudson valley

What big gay hudson valley does

Big Gay Hudson Valley (legally Mirepoix Enterprises, LLC) is a privately held, founder-operated regional media and events company serving the LGBTQ+ community across New York's Hudson Valley — spanning Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia, and Greene counties. Founded in 2008 by Stephan Hengst (Executive Director, formerly of the Provincetown Business Guild) and Patrick W. Decker, the organization functions as the region's primary LGBTQ+ community hub, operating a website with a community event calendar, a local LGBTQ+ business directory, an email newsletter ("Mo in the Know," 7,300+ subscribers at a 30% open rate), and printed Queer Travel Maps distributed across Dutchess and Ulster Counties (30,000+ copies).

The company produces a portfolio of signature events including Pride in the Sky on the Walkway Over the Hudson (anticipated 5,000+ attendees in 2026), Out on the Farm fall festival (anticipated 1,000+), HUNG With Care burlesque holiday show, Gay Gasp queer comedy showcase, Orchard Disco dance parties, BRONCO all-male burlesque, The Meet Market pop-up gay bar, and BARNWOOD queer art show. Its underlying technology is a conventional CMS-driven website (WordPress-architecture based on the URL structure) with no proprietary AI or data platform; ticketing is outsourced to Eventbrite and SimpleTix, and calendar events export to Google Calendar and iCal/Outlook.

The business model combines four revenue streams: event sponsorships (Presenting and Supporting tiers, with 2026 packages starting at $1,500 and multi-year contracts available), digital advertising across 23,000+ monthly unique visitors, print advertising in the Queer Map & Guide ($395–$1,500 per placement), and event ticket sales ($10–$40 range). The organization is bootstrapped, with 1–10 employees, no institutional investment, and a recognized regional brand protected by a registered trademark.

Name

big gay hudson valley

Legal name

Mirepoix Enterprises, LLC

Website

https://biggayhudsonvalley.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Gay Hudson Valley is a founder-operated regional media and events company that produces LGBTQ+ events, operates a community calendar and business directory, and publishes Queer Travel Maps for New York's Hudson Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ+ Community Events and Regional Media

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Travel Agencies (THAKAFAF)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ community events
• Queer travel guides
• Local business directory
• Pride event production
• Community newsletter publishing

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Sponsorships: Event sponsorship opportunities for signature events including Pride in the Sky, Out on the Farm, and HUNG With Care. Sponsorship levels include Presenting Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor with varying benefits.
2. Advertising - Website & Digital: Digital advertising placements across the BigGayHudsonValley.com website, reaching 23K+ unique users monthly from NYC as the #1 traffic source.
3. Print Advertising - Queer Map & Guide: Print advertising in the annual Queer Map & Guide covering Dutchess & Ulster Counties. 10,000 maps produced per county. Rates from $395 to $1,500 based on placement size.
4. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for signature events such as Out on the Farm ($10 advance, $15 door), Gay Gasp comedy showcase ($35 advance, $40 door), and other produced events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Big Gay Hudson Valley produces and curates LGBTQ+ events for the Mid-Hudson Valley region and publishes supporting regional media. Core offerings include signature events (Pride in the Sky, Out on the Farm, HUNG With Care, Gay Gasp), an annual printed Queer Travel Maps & Guide for Dutchess and Ulster Counties, a community event calendar, a local LGBTQ+ business directory, and a weekly email newsletter. Revenue is generated through event ticket sales, event sponsorships, and digital/print advertising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pride in the Sky Annual LGBTQ+ pride celebration held on the Walkway Over the Hudson, featuring community festivals, nighttime dance parties, and pride flag parades; expected to draw 5,000+ attendees in May 2026.
• Out on the Farm

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Hudson Valley Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPride in the Sky 2026 event sponsor. Financial services institution serving as sponsor for BGHV's signature pride event on the Walkway Over the Hudson.
• WMCHealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPride in the Sky 2026 event sponsor. Major healthcare network supporting LGBTQ+ pride events in the Hudson Valley.
• New York State Department of HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPride in the Sky 2026 event sponsor. State agency providing support for public health pride initiatives.
• I LOVE NY / LGBTQflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerState tourism partner for Pride in the Sky and queer tourism initiatives. Partnership to position Hudson Valley as an LGBTQ+ travel destination.
• New York State Parks / Walkway Over the HudsonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Friends of the Walkway to host Pride in the Sky on the iconic Walkway Over the Hudson, spanning Poughkeepsie and Highland.
• Ulster County TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Queer Travel Maps distribution across Ulster County and tourism promotion of LGBTQ+ attractions.
• Destination DutchesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism partner for queer travel map and pride event promotion in Dutchess County.
• Dutchess Pride CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner for Pride events, providing children's activities and support for BGHV events like Out on the Farm.
• Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner for events including Jingle Bell Dash fundraising run and Pride activities. Co-producing Queer Families Festival at Pride in the Sky.
• Bad Seed Hard CidercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Orchard Disco events and Out on the Farm fall festival. Hosts BGHV summer outdoor events at their Highland taproom.
• Rosendale TheatrecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for signature events including Gay Gasp comedy showcase, HUNG With Care burlesque, and film screenings.
• Gilbert Baker FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Pride in the Sky 2026, ensuring large pride flags fly for generations. Leading procession with world's largest pride flags.
• Third Eye Associates LtdcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services firm and event sponsor for BGHV events including Pride in the Sky.
• Q92 HVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio partner for Pride in the Sky 2026, providing broadcast support for the event.
• Oakwood Friends SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution sponsor for Pride in the Sky 2026.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dutchess Pride Center: Regional LGBTQ+ community center serving the Hudson Valley. Comparable as a Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ organization co-producing events and community programming with BGHV.
• GayTravel.com: LGBTQ+ travel agency and tourism platform. Comparable in curating queer-friendly travel content, destination guides, and business listings, though operating nationally rather than at BGHV's regional scope.
• Queerty: Digital LGBTQ+ news and culture site with event listings and community features. Comparable as a community-oriented LGBTQ+ media property monetized through advertising and audience engagement.
• Gay City News: NYC-area LGBTQ+ news and events publication. Comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ media outlet combining community news, event calendars, and local business advertising in a defined geographic market.
• Out Traveler: LGBTQ+ travel publication featuring destination guides and queer-owned business directories. Comparable as a queer travel media brand with directory and editorial content.
• Provincetown Business Guild: Long-standing LGBTQ+ tourism and business organization in Provincetown, MA. Directly comparable as the prior employer of BGHV's co-founder and as a model for monetizing queer tourism via memberships, events, and business listings in a defined regional market.

Broad incumbents

• The Advocate: Long-established national LGBTQ+ news and lifestyle publication. Comparable in covering LGBTQ+ events, community resources, and lifestyle content, but at a national rather than hyper-local scale.
• Out Magazine: National LGBTQ+ lifestyle and culture publication. Comparable as an LGBTQ+-focused media brand publishing events, travel, and lifestyle content; broader scope than BGHV's regional focus.

Emerging players

• Edge Media Network: Regional LGBTQ+ print and digital publications covering nightlife, events, and community news in select US markets. Comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ events and lifestyle media business.
• Purple Roofs: LGBTQ+ vacation rental and travel directory platform. Comparable as a queer travel directory business but focused on lodging rather than events and regional community building.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/biggayhudsonvalley
• Instagraminstagram.com/biggayhudsonvalley
• TikToktiktok.com/@biggayhudsonvalley

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about big gay hudson valley