Grief, community tensions, and even some rain could not spoil the parade as Sydney's LGBTIQ+ community and allies 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 couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, who were allegedly murdered last month by a serving police officer.
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 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 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 LGBTIQ+ and minority communities.
The Queer Arab Alliance and Jewish community group Dayenu also received warm receptions from the crowd.
Pro-Palestinian protesters carrying a banner that read "Queer solidarity with Palestinian resistance" entered the parade route near Taylor Square.
Police arrested one man and seven women, aged 25 to 42, charging them with a violent disorder offence, carrying a maximum penalty of six months in jail.
A compromise allowed NSW police to march out of uniform after officers were uninvited following Baird and Davies' alleged murders.
On-duty, uniformed police flanked the LGBTIQ+ 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 said.
"It has been challenging and I'm really glad we're here tonight," she told the ABC.
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 the Australian Associated Press.
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 re-invitation 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.
Chris Minns became the first NSW premier to march in the parade, joining 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 LGBTIQ+ events.
