Crowds line the streets for the city's annual Pride March — celebrating LGBT equality, while also remembering the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting. NY1's Matt McClure reports.

The NYC Pride March is an annual tradition for Bienvenida Byrd. She's been attending ever since her brother died of complications from AIDS in 1984.

"I still come down here and I'm 67 years old.  And as long as I can make it, I will be here. I support all of them!" Byrd said.

In addition to honoring her brother's life, she says she comes to the march each year to spread a message of love.

"Care for each other no matter what your race, your color or what your sexuality is,” Byrd added. “You gotta help each other and love each other."

Bienvenida was just one of an estimated two million people who attended the Pride March.

Among the marchers was a Pentagon official who says he's proud to take part in a celebration of how far the country has come on LGBT rights.

"When I served, I did it very quietly and in the shadows and it's great that folks can serve the country and be out and proud," said Assistant Secretary of Defense Todd Weiler.

More than 30-thousand people marched in this year's event and participants I spoke with said it was so important to take part right after the Orlando shootings.

"It shook us and it shook our feeling of safety profoundly. And it's very important to carry on the message, to carry on, to tell the people that it's not ok, that what happened is not ok," Subhi Nahas, Grand Marshall of the march said.

"It's been a tough time recently in the world, so it's nice to see everybody come out and be together," one march participant said.

"There were a bunch of people dressed in white with cards for all the victims of the Orlando shooting and that actually really got me. I thought that was beautiful," added another marcher.

"We don't let the fear conquer us. Love conquers all," another marcher said.

That's a message that Bienvenida says she'll continue to spread as long as she's able.

"There are so many people who are so sick and they don't know what life is all about. Love. Love each other. That's what we need. Peace," she said.