Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy are celebrating with Sydney at the 40th Mardi Gras parade.
The couple made an appearance on Oxford Street after the Dykes on Bikes and Boys on Bikes kicked off the evening's festivities.
Mr Turnbull described the parade as a "wonderful part of Sydney".
"It's 40 years old and 40 years ago Lucy and I had our first date so our love affair is a result of Mardi Gras," Mr Turnbull told reporters at the event.
The prime minister, who didn't attend last year's parade because of the marriage equality controversy says the 'yes' vote was an affirmation of love and respect for same sex couples.
"It was like the nation gave same sex couples an enormous hug," he said.
"It was a vote for equality, a vote for respect and what a huge vote it was."