Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Extravaganza [PHOTOS]

A crowd of more than 10,000 attended the 35<sup>th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Saturday, making it a night to remember. There were more than 130 floats and 9,000 participants, celebrating all the way down the Oxford Street and even the rain could not dampen the participant's spirit and desire to assert their sexual identities.

One of the highlights of the show must certainly have been the K25 float for singer Kylie Minogue, who was celebrating 25 years in the music industry.

"We are a very proud community this morning. It was just one of a myriad of amazing entrants that made this year's parade one of the most exhilarating we've ever seen. Kylie's visit is a very special gift to Sydney this year and our K25 float was a way of returning that love back to her," the festival's Chief Executive, Michael Rolik, was quoted as saying in The Herald Sun.

"I think Mardi Gras is a great opportunity to remember how far we have come in Australia but it's also a reminder that there's some things still to do. It's going to be an important, continuing struggle and I wanted to show my support for marriage equality by being here today," a participant who brought her children - Anna and Joe - and whose last name was given as Plibersek, was quoted as saying by Local Wentworth Courier.

Perhaps the only disappointment was that Minogue's fans did not get to see her in the parade. Aside from that the Sydney parade was a colourful celebration and strong statement of pride in alternate sexual identities and same-sex relationships!

Check out photos from the parade...