Grief, community tensions, and even some rain could not spoil the parade as Sydney's gay and lesbian community marched up Oxford Street in a celebration of love and community.
The annual parade as part of the Mardi Gras festival carried a tinge of sadness in mourning Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
Their bodies were found in Bungonia near Goulburn on Tuesday after Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon allegedly murdered the pair with his police-issued gun on February 19.
Parade-leading motorcycle club Dykes on Bikes revved up engines and the crowd as the festivities began, later pausing in Taylor Square in recognition of the pair.
The Qantas float carried Mr Davies' name on its nose cone in honour of the 29-year-old flight attendant, as his colleagues followed in rainbow kangaroo shirts.
Marchers in the Sydney Swans float wore black armbands in memory of AFL umpire Mr Baird.
Solidarity was on show early as the First Nations float held signs supporting Gazans, while Palestinian flags were visible throughout the parade.
Pride in Protest continued the theme, drawing support from spectators as they called for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to alleged police violence against queer and minority communities.
The Queer Arab Alliance and Jewish community group Dayenu also received warm receptions from the crowd.
A brief scuffle broke out between police and pro-Palestinian protesters as smoke from flares filled the air.
Cheers greeted police gay and lesbian liaison officers who marched on the route after a week of controversy.
A compromise allowed police to march out of uniform after officers were uninvited following the alleged murders.
On-duty, uniformed police flanked the gay and lesbian liaison officers who marched in largely identical shirts, joined by Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley.
Mardi Gras organisers had an interesting week balancing the police presence with community expectations, chief executive Gil Beckwith told the ABC's parade coverage.
"It has been challenging and I'm really glad we're here tonight," she said.
Domino Trixx could see both sides of the debate about police participating in the parade but chose to march in style regardless of what goes on outside of the rainbow road.
"I think that we're a resilient community. We shouldn't have to be so resilient, but we are," they told AAP.
The drag queen opted for a Barbarella-esque ensemble for their 10th Mardi Gras in five-inch stiletto boots and gravity-defying hair crafted from two wigs.
Pride Morris member Rosie Winter's first parade appearance was slightly darkened by the reinvitation of police, she said.
"Myself and my friends have faced police brutality towards us in the past, so we do question why they're marching," she told AAP.
The group danced their way up the street in the traditional English folk style, to the beat of a drum carrying the anti-police message "ACAB".
Firefighters and paramedics were cheered along the route with an occasional celebratory siren as a member on a stretcher was resuscitated through the power of dance.
Perched on a yellow convertible, Sydney Mayor Clover Moore waved to crowds alongside independent state MP Alex Greenwich.
NSW still has a long way to go on LGBTIQA+ rights, Mr Greenwich said, highlighting a bill currently before the parliament to ban gay conversion practices.
"My bill will give us the ability to say that LGBT people exist in NSW and deserve to be treated equally, I'm sure everyone would agree with that tonight," Mr Greenwich told ABC.
Premier Chris Minns told ABC equality was a priority in parliament and promised action within weeks.
He became the first NSW leader to march in the parade along with senior minister Penny Sharpe, joined by federal colleague Tanya Plibersek as part of the Rainbow Labor float.
First held more than four decades ago as a protest against discrimination, the Sydney Mardi Gras has become one of the world's largest LGBTQI events.
