At Big Gay Hudson Valley, we know that a community’s success is the sum of its parts.

As such, our goal since starting up in 2008 has been to keep our community connected to the wide variety of gay-owned, -friendly, and -sensible businesses, events, resources, and happenings in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley.  In order to keep our community connected, we think local first whenever possible. We strive to showcase fresh, original items of interest to our community and also want to give the spotlight to the efforts of local, grassroots organizations that make our region so colorful.  We do our best to cover content from Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia, and Greene counties.

In turn, BGHV hosts our own events and is proud to share our proceeds with our other friends in the community, making their fundraising efforts as successful as possible.

About Stephan & Patrick

S&P have been nesting in the Big Gay Hudson Valley since 2005. Married in August 2009 in Stephan’s native country of Holland, the two will continue to make their community as big & gay as it can be.
Stephan Hengst
Stephan HengstCo-Founder
Stephan Hengst has spent his career representing brands like Whole Foods Market, Stonyfield Farm, and The Culinary Institute of America. A communicator from an early age he served as the National Youth Spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association when he was just 15. Always believing in his mother’s advice to be the best gay person that he can be, he’s focused on connecting like minded friends over the years for the betterment of our community.

If there’s a burlesque star, drag queen, or a bear wearing make-up on stage, you’ll likely find him nearby.

Patrick Decker
Patrick DeckerCo-Founder
Patrick W. Decker loves a good story, and he’s spent most of his professional career developing content for brands like Food Network, HGTV, and Rachel Ray. A food lover at heart, he’s proud to “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry” whenever he can. He’s a lover of cardio kickboxing and yoga, and never misses an opportunity rub a furry face – whether it be on a cat, a goat, or while out with friends.

We Believe in Living Our Lives Out & Proud.

Each month, thousands of visitors come to BGHV to learn more about the big gay happenings in the Hudson Valley.  We want to be able to connect those visitors with businesses and organizations that serve the interests of – and give back to – our community, so we offer a wide range of targeted marketing & promotional opportunities.  With so many gay-owned, -friendly, and -sensible businesses in our own backyard, our goal is to build the region’s community by encouraging our readers to patronize organizations that support them.

Get Involved

Keep in touch with upcoming events by following us on Facebook and Instagram (@BigGayHudsonValley) and signing up for email updates.

Event Sponsorships

Connecting with consumers through Big Gay Hudson Valley events is a great way to introduce them to your company and grow brand loyalty within the community.