Thunder boomed Sunday evening over the thousands gathered along NW 39, but the crowd only cheered louder.

Moments earlier, a group marched by carrying signs naming the 49 victims of a mass shooting in Orlando two weeks ago, and the people amassed for Oklahoma City's gay pride parade were fired up. Not even the sudden torrential rain that was about to douse them would dampen their spirits. As the rains grew heavier, the crowd only cheered louder.

"L-O-V-E," one man in the parade yelled as those carrying signs for the victims answered in kind. Their chant was matched by the crowd, and as the parade moved toward NW 39 and Pennsylvania Ave., where the crowd swelled, the chants grew increasingly louder. Every block the group would silently kneel, holding up their signs before standing again and yelling "Orlando!"

The parade Sunday was the culmination of OKC Pride, an annual event celebrating the city's gay community. Last year, OKC Pride attracted 72,000 people. Michael Clark, president of OKC Pride, said by his early estimates closer to 80,000 showed up over the weekend this year.