Pride celebrated in New York, London as Orlando's shadow lingers

With a moment of silence followed by the roar of motorcycles, New York City's gay pride parade kicked off Sunday, a celebration of barriers breached and a remembrance of the lives lost in the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

Crowds of onlookers stood a dozen deep along Fifth Avenue, many waving rainbow flags. Some spectators held up orange "We are Orlando" signs, and indications of increased security were everywhere, with armed officers standing by.

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An announcerintroducing state officialsand guests likepresidential candidateHillary Clinton, New York Mayor Bill deBlasioandcivil rights activist Al Sharptonalso shouted out, "Love islove! New York is Orlando!" in memory of the 49 people killed inFlorida.

The New Yorkmarch had added significance.On Friday,President Barack Obamadesignated the site around the city's Stonewall Inn as the first national monument to gay rights. A 1969 police raid on the bar helped catalyze the gay rights movement.

And just before the start of the parade, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the Stonewall Inn would be designated as a state historic site and that New York would erect a monument in honour of all victims of hate and intolerance, including those killed in Orlando.

The lead float in New York's parade was dedicated to the Orlandovictims. And gun-control, anti-gun-violence groups joined the lineupsince the shooting forged new bonds between them and gay-rightsactivists. BarbaraPoma, the owner ofPulse nightclub, where the deadlymass shootingtook place, rode on a float.

Stepped up security

New York's parade was one of several being held Sunday across theU.S., along with big gatherings inSan Francisco and Chicago. Security has been increased at each in wake of the Orlando attack.

New York police deployed roving counterterrorism unitsand used bomb-sniffing dogs, rooftop observation posts, policehelicopters and thousands of officers to provide extra layers ofsecurity at theparade.Thousands of uniformed officers alsolined the route, supplemented by plainclothes officers in the crowd.

San Francisco spectators will facemetal detectors for the firsttime, and more police than usual will keepwatch. Some participantsaren't welcoming the stepped-up security: Two honorary grandmarshals and a health clinic that serves sex workers withdrew Fridayfrom theparade to protest the heavy police presence.

A pride parade in Istanbul was broken up by policeon Sundayafter authorities banned their rally in the city. At least 19 activists have been detained.

The activists hadassembled on a main pedestrian street to issue a statement in honour of gay rights and to denounce the ban.Police later fired tear gas and rubber pellets to disperse activists gathering in side streets.

Police proposals

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of London on Saturday for their annual pride parade but many stillhad Brexit on the brain. Someexpressedconcerns at the parade as Britain gears up to part ways with the European Union after Thursday's referendum.

But others came to celebrate.

Among the parade'smost memorable momentswere a pair of police officer proposals. One police officer stopped part way through the parade to propose to his partner, who was watching from the sidelines. That was followed by lots of cheers from the crowd and popping confetti.

Metropolitan Police confirmed on Twitter that there was another proposal ... and that partner said "yes" too. Pride celebrations continue next weekend with Toronto's parade, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will march.