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Dancing through the parade displaying Australia's rich and diverse queer culture.
Thousands of people descended upon Sydney's Oxford street awash with glitter, colourful outfits and confetti to be a part of this year's Mardi Gras parade.
"There's just so much love and so much diversity for everyone. Like it's such a huge crowd and no matter who you speak to you feel love and supported. It's so good. Love it. Trans lives matter."
This person says they were just there for the vibe.
"I love Mardi Gras. This is my first time and I'm enjoying it. I'm just here for the vibe, this place is going crazy and I'm just here for the vibe."
Another woman from the UK says she felt the inclusivity in the country when she first came to Australia 26 years ago.
"If you're not inclusive, leave the door. You have to be inclusive, I work in care, my husband works in care. At the end of the day you embrace everybody and you embrace every culture. Take people as what they are. At the end of the day you must be inclusive. We're all human and we're all lovely people here."
Groups representing rainbow families, transgender people, LGBTIQ+ people with disability, and those with a deep love for deafening motorcycles were among more than 180 distinct communities and corporations present.
Kicking the parade into gear, the Dykes on Bikes as part of a decades-old tradition.
Following soon after, floats representing First Nations communities.
And the trailblazing 78ers - their 1978 protest paving the way of Australia's largest LGBTIQ+ celebration.
"We have a public display of acceptance. You know, I think it's really important that every year the community gets reminded because it's something important".
This year's theme, Free to Be is all about marching to the beat of your own drum.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was also in attendance. He has been marching since the early 80s.
This year marks his second time as a Prime Minister.
In an ABC News interview he says Australia has come a long way.
"This is a great celebration but it also began as a political protest when being gay or lesbian or your identity could be a crime here in New South Wales. So, we've come a long way, but there's still further to go. And we need to make sure that every Australian should feel safe."
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, Senator Lidia Thorpe, Greens leader Adam Bandt were also in attendance.
Historians from South Australia, queer Queensland doctors and migrant communities representing Turkey, Japan, and other nations highlighted just some of the participants' diversity, covering the entire LGBTIQ+ spectrum.
Police inclusion in the parade has been controversial since the parade's protest origins.
A bid to ban police presence was narrowly voted down last year.
Police marched in the parade this year but not in uniform.
They wore polo shirts instead.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb says hopefully this will change next year.
"I mean, obviously it's up to Mardi Gras what they accept. We're in something that's close to a uniform, but hopefully next year we're in uniform."
Although the celebrations are wrapping up, the fight for inclusion will continue.
