Amid heightened security in the aftermath of a shooting in Orlando, Fla., thousands poured into the streets of West Hollywood on Sunday for an L.A. Pride celebration charged with a new resolve.

Crowds converged on Santa Monica and Crescent Heights boulevards, waving rainbow flags, brandishing “We love Orlando” signs and chanting slogans. Cheerleaders in drag raising awareness for HIV readied their pompoms and a group of lesbian motorcyclists revved their engines.

“When our community comes under attack, what do we do?” some shouted, with others yelling the reply, “Stand up, fight back!”

City officials and civic leaders began the parade with a moment of silence and speeches calling for the celebration to serve as a rallying cry and a refutation to the violence at a gay nightclub in Florida, in which at least 50 were killed and 53 were injured early Sunday morning. The gunman was later killed in a shootout with police.

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