Glorious sunshine, with the mercury touching 25.1 degrees at 5pm yesterday helped draw record crowds to the 10th annual Pride March in St Kilda.
A record 99 contingents involving an estimated 60,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and allied Victorians marched while 50,000 people lined the route down Fitzroy Street.
Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon might not have turned up - as she did to wide acclaim in 2002 - but the Victoria Police Show Band was there, for the first time.
For an hour before the march the boys and girls in blue treated the always colourful crowd to a mixed selection of all-time hits by several 1970s disco perennials including songs from the Village People and ABBA.
While a hopping and bopping performance of YMCA was cut short by an equipment failure, all was forgiven when Constable Julie Leder saved the day with a rousing rendition of I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor.
It was also the first march to be officially supported and joined by a school, with a contingent representing the Princes Hill Secondary College in Carlton North. Yesterday also marked the passing of 25 years since the socially progressive state Liberal government led by the late Sir Rupert Hamer decriminalised homosexuality
Melbourne's only openly gay mayor, Port Phillip Mayor Darren Ray, was among those who started the march a decade ago. "We always intended that it be a low-key, inclusive show of pride in ourselves and our community without the glitz and razzamatazz of a Mardi Gras," Cr Ray said. "This is about inspiring people. The wider public have all too often thought of gay people as victims. But I see no victims here. The miracle is that these people are survivors."
Cr Ray said his council had sponsored the march for the past nine years after the first march, which was expected to attract 300 but which drew 11,000 or more.
"We grant just $20,000 to this event with absolutely no direct support from the State Government and it returns an estimated $5 million to traders along the route. Now that's a big bang for a very small buck," he said.
The march, followed by a free concert, also helps promote events in other centres, such as Daylesford and theatre events.
My thread, eh? I dont remember any such thread......but if you say so Sherry. I'll take your word for it. 
