LGBTQ+ Washingtonians joined state officials Wednesday in raising the Pride flag outside the state Capitol building in Olympia. Their message: Washington will continue to welcome — and fight to protect — the LGBTQ+ community. Gov. Bob Ferguson said that the national climate makes events like this June 4 Pride flag raising all the more important.

Loftis said an alternate marching route was made, but a "cascade of errors" led the group of at least 50 troops from the 120th graduating class to march through the flag ceremony.

Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and highlights the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Pride flags have unique symbolism, representing different aspects of the community, for instance, the traditional rainbow flag, the progress Pride flag and the transgender Pride flag.