Continuing a tradition that started in 2019, Westchester County kicked off Pride Month by raising the pride progress flag outside of the County Office Building in White Plains.

"It's special every year," said Rachel Simon, the chair of the Westchester County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board.

Organizers say that is especially true this year, after they say they noticed that the Facebook comments about the flag raising were even more negative than they have been other years.

"It just reinvigorates the drive, the need for doing this, and to have visibility," said Simon about the comments.

Cade Schwark, the Board's youth representative added "we need to push back, no matter how many people speak up against us."

That pushback is why local members of the LGBTQIA+ community say it means so much to see the public support, including events like Westchester Pride, which county officials estimate will bring 7,000 people to the area this month.

"It makes a huge difference, because they see the pushback, but they also see all of this," said Logan Culwell-Block, an attendee from White Plains. "I didn't have that when I was a kid, and it means a lot that it's here now."

Schwark agreed that big events like this "make Westchester feel safe."

Schwark also said that the flag raising is a big part of that - since it is a big, public sign that the local government also has the community's back.

"It's actively creating a safe space and showing that Westchester is a place where people like me belong," he said.

"Everyone in Westchester County needs to continue to stand up together," said County Executive Ken Jenkins. "And we're going to show that leadership."