Around 50,000 people have marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a colourful display of solidarity with the LGBT community on the final day of WorldPride.
The bridge was closed for several hours for the Pride March, marking the seventh and final day of WorldPride — held in Sydney for the first time.
Emotions ran high, with a mid-bridge marriage proposal a highlight of the event that attracted friends, families and community groups from around the world.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were greeted by cheers as they joined the crowd at an opening ceremony, where organisers asked walkers to consider those in countries where LGBTQI+ communities are persecuted.
LGBT activist Peter De Waal said the day was an emotional journey.
“Today for me is like a pilgrimage I started in 1970. I think of many different events, including the AIDS epidemic, when we go across the bridge. Remember the thousands of mainly young men we lost. It’s an amazing achievement we’ve made in those 50 years.”
“It’s really emotional. I lost my own partner five years ago. We were a couple for 50 years. He died seven months before we could get married, and we wanted to get married. So it’s a very emotional journey and pilgrimage for me.”
Organisers said the march “[would] be relentless in our demand for equality not only in Australia, but for all LGBTQIA+ people around the world.”
The march started in North Sydney, and ended at The Domain in Sydney’s CBD, where the WorldPride closing ceremony is being held later today.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was "a great moment".
"It’s symbolising the unity that has been on show for 17 days. We are an inclusive country and it’s great to show that to the world,” he said.
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the massive turnout was a strong statement from a community calling for equality.
"This is so significant. We're celebrating the diversity of our entire community and thousands of people have come out to show their respect and show their support for Sydney in all its diversity," he said.
"So many barriers have been broken down but there are so many more barriers to break down."
NSW Independent MP Alex Greenwich described it as a powerful moment.
"Closing the Harbour Bridge for tens of thousands of people marching to end all LGBTQI discrimination. There's still more work to do but this is a powerful moment for our city and our country," he said.
Actor Sam Neill said he was marching in solidarity with friends, and was happy to see Sydney had come a long way since he first visited 40 years ago.
"Pride of course is the opposite of shame and there was a lot of shame back in the day," he said.
"That's pretty much gone and I'm glad of that. But this isn't true everywhere in the world and I think that's what WorldPride is about."
Many in the crowd danced to music as they walked, waving to train passengers also crossing the bridge.
They carried pride flags and banners representing a wide range of organisations and charities.
Two hours after it started, a steady stream of people were still packing onto the bridge.
