Celebration Included Leadership Award Presentation to LGBTQ+ Advocate and Former Chief Executive Officer of The Loft Judy Troilo
Watch the Press Conference Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B76B7Gw1bU
Westchester County marked the beginning of LGBTQ+ Pride Month with its Annual Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at the Michaelian Office Building. The event, hosted by the County’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, brought together residents, community leaders, elected officials and advocates to celebrate our County’s LGBTQ+ community. This year’s event included the presentation of the Westchester County LGBTQ+ Leadership Award to longtime advocate and former LOFT Chief Executive Officer Judy Troilo.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “This flag raising is a declaration that everyone in Westchester deserves to live openly, safely and proudly. Pride Month is also an opportunity to uplift voices that have too often gone unheard and to reflect on the progress made. One of those voices is Judy Troilo. Judy’s legacy is a reminder of what advocacy, courage and commitment can accomplish. From launching Westchester Pride to championing inclusive senior housing, her work has uplifted thousands and helped build the kind of community we all want to live in.”
LGBTQ Advisory Board Chair Rachel Simon said: “During Pride Month, we take the time honor our community’s past and embrace the work that still lies ahead. We are proud to raise the Intersex Inclusive Pride Flag again this year and to celebrate the people—like trailblazer Judy Troilo—who serves as a model to the community of what can be accomplished with hard work and coalition building.
LGBTQ Advisory Board Member Michael Sabatino said: “Pride Month is a time of celebration, reflection and visibility for our County’s LGBTQ+ community. It’s an opportunity to honor our progress and recognize the continued challenges many still face here and around the country. Raising the Progress Pride Flag in Westchester sends a clear message to our LGBTQ+ residents and families that they are seen, valued and supported.”
The LOFT’s Former Chief Executive Officer Judy Troilo said: “It is truly an honor to be recognized by Westchester County, which is deeply committed to uplifting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. In a time when the world can feel dark and uncertain, Westchester County stands as a beacon of hope and light.”
The LOFT’s Chief Executive Officer Dante R.H. Reda said: “Raising the Progress Pride Flag is more than symbolic; it's a powerful affirmation that we are still here, thriving, and forging ahead. It's a declaration of hope, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of our LGBTQ+ community. There is no better way to begin Pride Month than by honoring the extraordinary legacy of Judy Troilo. Judy's dedication, vision, and fierce advocacy laid the foundation for the progress we celebrate today in Westchester. She is a champion for our community and a friend whose impact will continue to ripple for generations. Today, we raise this flag in celebration and deep gratitude for Judy, our past, and the future we are building together.”
Pride Month is recognized nationally each June and commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The Progress Pride Flag has flown every June at the Michaelian Office Building since 2019, a symbol of Westchester County’s commitment to honoring the full diversity of its residents.