It was a vibrant scene on Newark Avenue over the weekend during the 17th annual LGBT Pride Festival.

Hundreds crowded in the heart of Downtown Jersey City to celebrate the tail-end of Pride Week, which had begun on Aug. 16.

Costumes, vendors and entertainment -- along with plenty of rainbow flags -- lined Newark Avenue as the festival began.

While Jersey City's pride was palpably strong, the LGBT community at large was hit with news out of the White House Friday that President Donald Trump had finalized his ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.

"It's ridiculous," said Matt Basile, a resident of Bayonne attending the festival with his relative, Spencer Basile. "Someone who wants to enlist and give their life for the same freedoms Mr. Trump enjoys -- to ban them from serving in the military is ridiculous. Everyone should have the right to protect their country."

But despite the news, residents remained united and jubilant during the festival.

"Now more than ever we need unity," Basile added. "Everybody from all walks of life -- race, religion, sexual orientation, wherever you're from -- we have to really unite and protect each other."

Jersey City is something of a haven for the LGBT community. In the beginning of the year, the LGBT magazine The Advocate ranked Jersey City the "queerest city in America."