About Us
BeckHook Pride, Co. is a community organization that strives to support the LGBTQIA+ community members of Rhinebeck, Red Hook and beyond with activities and programs that promote visibility, equity and advocacy.
We are proud to partner in pride with the Leonard-Litz LGBTQ+ Foundation and the Circle Care Center.
MARIE-MICHELE
Marie-Michele Mugnos (she/her) is the acting President of BeckHook Pride, Co., a little company with big dreams.
A Brooklyn native, Marie-Michele is a full-time medical practitioner who believes that every skill is accessible and every heart is reachable. She maintains faith in the transformative power of education and takes particular pride in supporting bi-visibility.
DEBBIE
Debbie Hecht (she/her) is the proud mom of a trans child and has been an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community for her entire adult life. As vice president of BeckHook Pride, she is excited to provide resources, safe spaces, and plan events for the queer communities of Northern Dutchess County.
Debbie is an avid reader and knitter, and teaches a beginner's knitting workshop twice a month at Starr Library. She has never met a dog she didn't like.
JEAN MICHEL
Jean David Michel (he/him) is the co-owner and founder of Megabrain Comics in Rhinebeck, NY. He feels that comic books are one of the most versatile mediums in the world today and that there is a comic book out there for everyone.
When he opened Megabrain Comics' doors in 2017 Jean made it a mission and point of pride for the store to be a welcoming, safe inclusive space for queer, BIPOC and disabled comic book readers, creators and families.
He hopes to empower and connect people through comic books as an educational tool, entertainment and an art form, as well as encourage literacy in those who may normally be averse to reading.
Kym
Kym Bradley-Rickard (They/Them/she/her) has lived in all four corners of the country. They grew up in California, then spent 8 years in Portland, Oregon where they earned two Master’s degrees before moving across country to Atlanta, Georgia for a PhD program, and now call Red Hook home.
Kym moved to the Hudson Valley the summer of 2020. A trained sociologist with a focus on gender, sexuality and language, they have years of experience in EDI work, qualitative research and have dabbled in social media marketing and web design. Currently, Kym works as a research consultant in network analysis focusing on equity and diversity.
Additionally, Kym is a Trustee on the Red Hook Village Board of Trustees and spends most of the day parenting their three-year-old. They have a passion for the outdoors, yoga and travel, and are on a lifelong quest to understand humanity, to never stop learning and to never forget history.