New York City Pride closes with its annual parade Sunday as people pay tribute to Orlando and celebrate the first LGBT national monument, Stonewall Inn.

News reporters lined the street to get the first glimpse of the parade. While at the same time, attendees lined 5th Avenue and Christopher Street. LGBT members, straight allies, and even families packed Midtown and Greenwich Village as noon quickly approached.

NYC firefighters and police marched as well, led by the marching band of NYC police members. A slew of companies were in attendance including the National Basketball Association (NBA), T-Mobile, Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo and Delta Air Lines to name a few. Logo TV also had a float promoting the upcoming season of its breakout show "RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars," while Netflix was represented by "Orange is the New Black" cast members.

Other celebrities in attendance were actress Cynthia Nixon from "Sex in the City" and rapper Macklemore. Even Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo, both gay rights advocates, walked in the parade.

Officials estimate that over 2.5 million people attended the parade this year. The groundbreaking number is no surprise with all the news surrounding the LGBT in the last couple of weeks. Just days before the parade, President Barack Obama declared Stonewall Inn the first LGBT national monument. Located in Greenwich Village, the tavern is home to the birthplace of gay activism and rights when residents stood up to the police for the first time in history in 1969.

The parade also marked the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to legalize gay marriage. There is no doubt that this anniversary, in conjunction with the possible implications of an election year, encouraged many people to make an appearance. With an obvious push from the Republican party to have the decision overruled, many groups did show support in the actual parade for candidates both local and national. Hillary Clinton even made an appearance towards the latter part of the parade shaking hands as she went.

Regrettably attendance also went up due to the recent shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, where 49 men and women were killed. The parade was scattered with memorial marches. The most powerful featured 49 individuals, dressed all in white with veils over their faces, walking down the streets. Each had a sign hanging from their neck with the face and name of a victim in Orlando. As these men and women passed, the crowd grew somber and quiet, thinking only of the terrorist attack that happened just weeks ago.

All in attendance can attest that this Pride march will be like no other. The Orlando shooting created turmoil that has become fuel for the cause. This fire has only been ignited higher by the Stonewall Inn receiving long overdue recognition. These feelings of unity, passion and courage will help led the LGBT community to the equality every human being should be granted.