Pride Flag raising ceremony held in Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- June 1 is the first day of Pride Month, a celebration of the LGBTQ community to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. Advocates joined leaders in Albany on Friday to raise the Pride Month flag outside city hall.

While June is meant to be a time of celebration for the progress that has been made up to this point, local organizers said there is a lot more work to be done to ensure everyone has access to the same opportunities and has a chance to be heard.

"I want us to put emphasis on what's the work that's not being done?" In Our Own Voices CEO Tandra Lagrone said. "Because each and every one of us has a responsibility to make sure that we are contributing to not only Pride one day or one week out of June but 365 days."

Albany is hosting multiple celebrations throughout the month. The annual Pride kick-off block party is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday next to Waterworks. In Our Own Voices is hosting a BIPOC Pride Festival to celebrate Black, Indigenous and People of Color from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 in Washington Park.