Born in 2010,

The Hudson Pride Foundation is Columbia County's very first and only LGBT organization.

 

Supported & staffed by volunteers, the HPF aims to foster awareness of LGBT issues, work for equality, be a positive resource for the community, and award scholarships to Columbia County high school seniors for college tuition.

 

The Hudson Pride Foundation hosts various events throughout the year, most notably being our annual Hudson Pride Parade & Festival, the 3rd weekend in June in Hudson, NY.

President

TRIXIE STARR, (AKA RICH VOLO)

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Rich Volo moved to Hudson with no real prior drag queen experience. Rich's years of experience and skills as a financial industry IT Project Manager transferred to his new second career as a drag-queen event planner. Currently, Trixie Starr organizes dance parties (Trixie's Whorehouse), BINGO games, film nights, bakes cookies ('from Trixie's Oven'), writes the blog, GayHudson.com, and helped start the first Hudson Pride parade. Rich Volo manages "Trixie Starr Enterprises, LLC", a company specializing in computer consulting and event planning, and is a member of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. Rich is also one of the Co-Founder's of the Foundation.

 

Executive Director

MARTHA HARVEY

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Martha is one of the Co-Founder's of the Foundation and the current Executive Director. Martha is directly involved in all of the organization’s activities and acts as the main press and information contact for the group. Martha enjoys yoga, golf, driving up & down the NY Thruway and bowling on the Capital Pride Bowlers League as Captain of the Gutter Girls bowling team. Martha & her partner, Holly live in Hudson, NY with their cat, Zoe.

 

Vice President

BRITTANY THIBEAULT

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Brittany Thibeault is a feisty Hudson, NY native born and raised and mother of two feisty children . As a teenager she was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and the Columbia County Youth Project as a youth mentor and AIDS prevention educator. Studying theater, dance and Speech Communications at SUNY Oneonta she meandered her way to New Orleans to raise even more ruckus and continue her college education. Finding the birth of the Burlesque & Drag scene captivating there, she made her way back to Hudson, NY armed with a new set of tricks.

 

Brittany has been performing with a local cabaret and burlesque group for the last 10 years and owns a flourishing business here in Hudson with her husband, son, daughter, dog and a couple of rogue chickens. Combining her love of event management with her desire to advocate for human rights & educating the community she organized Hudson's first ever Family Pride Day.

 

Treasurer

HARRY LAUGHLIN

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Harry was born & raised in New Jersey and lived in New York City for close to 15 years before settling down in Hudson, NY in May of 2006. While in New York City, Harry became active in community issues and was elected President for the Tudor City Neighborhood Association for 4 years. During that same period Harry was appointed by the Manhattan Borough President to serve on Community Board 5 to address community issues. Harry currently serves on the Hudson Democratic Committee for the 3rd Ward. Harry is also one of the Co-Founder's of the Foundation.

 

PETER FRANK

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Peter Frank is a set designer and prop stylist whose work takes him around the country, and when he is very lucky the world.  He traffics extensively in make-believe and half-truths.  In real life he enjoys coming home to Hudson's inimitable community of artists, activists, and dreamers.  He also volunteers his time with the Aids Council of Northeastern New York and Historic Hudson.

 

HOLLY NORTHROP

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Holly is an photographer & graphic designer living in Hudson. Holly owns 831 Studio, a full service design company. Holly is a street photographer, spending as much time as possible capturing the light & life in New York City. Holly is also one of the Co-Founder's of the Foundation.

 

MIKE PATTERSON

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Mike moved to Hudson, NY in July 2009. In his full time job, he works as the Director of Student Activities and Union Services at SUNY New Paltz. He has experience in events management, booking entertainment, and contract negotiation, He enjoys the company of his three dogs; Kiwi, Mango, and Java and is happily partnered with Jeff. He enjoys camping and vacationing in Provincetown. Mike is also one of the Co-Founder's of the Foundation.

 

ABEL RAMIREZ

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Abel is an Artist who lives and works in New York City and Hudson, New York. AbelRamirezArt.com. Abel is also one of the Co-Founder's of the Foundation.

 

JAMIE TRACHTENBERG

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Jamie Trachtenberg is a  licensed social worker and psychotherapist in private practice in New York State.

 

By day Jamie is a Palliative Care social worker at a hospital in Brooklyn.  By night she sees clients in her private practice working with adolescents and adults for individual and couples therapy with an emphasis on chronic illness, LGBTQ issues and depression.

 

Jamie has held many volunteer advocacy roles including Director of Client Services for POWARS, an AIDS service organization that worked to keep clients and their pets together as long as possible while living with AIDS.  She has been an active volunteer in the hospice arena, and worked with other AIDS service organizations such as God’s Love We Deliver and GMHC.  Jamie presently sits on the Board of Blue Rider Stables, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating positive opportunities through holistic horseback riding located in the Berkshires.

 

Jamie splits her time between Park Slope, Brooklyn and Hudson, New York, however she calls Hudson home.

ADVISORS

Victor Mendolia - Co-Founder & Advisor

Tom Froese - Advisor

Kevin Moran - Co-Founder & Advisor

Ronnie Mangione - Advisor

Carla Sadoff - Advisor