10 seconds of silence for each victim of the Pulse massacre preceded the grand marshals and we carried candles to honor them, along with their names. The route was two miles and the entire route was deep with paradegoers cheering, or chanting (“Or-lan-do!”...), or silent, fists upraised in solidarity. Or crying, holding up pictures of Edward Sotomayor, Jr.
The Stonewall Democrats from Pinellas County had great tunes; their float was next to us while we awaited (for two hours!) the start of the parade.
Afterward, the parade became a celebration and devolved into a street party which was loads of fun.