FALL RIVER — It is hard to remember a summer quite like this, City Councilor Steven Camara said.

There is progress all around the country on the issue of gay rights. Then there is the slaughter in Orlando — 49 died in a massacre at a gay nightclub. Then more killings in Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights, Minnesota, Dallas.

“We recognize the mourning our country is going through with the violence,” Camara said. “At the same time, I’d like to see an appreciation of the diversity of our Fall River community and an appreciation of our LGBT community.” Camara stopped, laughed and corrected himself:

“LGBTQA it is now. Lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer and allies.”

So Camara called on his friends and they gathered Sunday at 6:30 outside Government Center for songs and speeches and they marched a half mile to the Unitarian Church in Fall River, 309 N. Main St., for more songs and prayers.

More than 60 people showed up for a short ceremony at Government Center. The rainbow flag was raised and lowered again to half mast. Those in the crowd wore Mardi Gras beads. Some wore rainbow masks, others rainbow suspenders, rainbow hats, rainbow flags, American flags, Portuguese flags and the red jerseys of the Portuguese national soccer team, winners a half-hour earlier of the European soccer finals.

There were cheers, each time a car passed honking its horn and waving the Portuguese flag.

“This is all part of one community,” Camara said.

“Welcome to Fall River’s first gay pride march,” Camara said to open the rally. “I’m a city councilor. I’m the only openly gay member of the City Council.”

All types of people are needed to make a community strong. That is what makes the recent violent deaths of so many people such a loss, Camara said.

At the rally many participants held photographs of the people killed in Orlando. They sang along with musician Louie Leeman to the songs “Dreams,” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

At the church, the Rev. Sam Teitel lead the prayers and the reading of the names of those lost.

He hopes, Camara said, to have other rallies, possibly to celebrate progress for diversity and rights for everyone.

But the first rally, he said, must also honor the memory of those lost.

“So this is a celebration and a remembrance,” he said.

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.