PHOTOS: The Pride of Boston

The 44th Boston Pride Parade and Festival drew a record 400,000 people. More than 25,000 people in 200 groups marched in the annual parade, which was led by Gov. Deval Patrick and Mayor Martin Walsh and ended with a festival on City Hall Plaza.  

“There’s been a huge evolution in the kind of folks attending,” Boston Pride president Sylvain Bruni told The Boston Globe. “There are more families, more babies, more couples, more youth, more straight people — it’s much more diverse than it’s ever been.”

Photos included here are courtesy of Marilyn Humphries and Merina Zeller via Boston Pride.

Warm weather brought out the guns for Gay Pride.

Like we said, really warm weather.

Some participants were stricken with Rainbow Madness disease. Here, medics attend to a victim.

Music men raise their trombones high.

Vertical diversity.

Governor Patrick with Boston Pride president Sylvain Bruni, who presented him with the certificate as grand marshal of the Boston Pride Parade.

Big Pride smiles for the camera.

Remember to use liberal amounts of sunblock, boys.

Another victim of Rainbow Madness disease.

Careful. There is a wild animal right there!

Pride of flexibility.

Intergalactic diversity is welcomed.

Hey, ladies.

Hey, boys.

Happiness is multiplied by the thousands.

The DJ gives the Pride its rhythm.

Gay dogs.

It's about time we opened the doors to folks from other solar systems.

A great day to be celebrating with friends in Boston.

Ladies working the festival.

Volunteering at your local Pride parade or festival is a great way to be of service and meet new people.

Young men about to misbehave.

Just a few feathers helps make the day that much better.

Sunglass hug.

Go forth and be prideful. Uh, gay prideful.

No, you can't have my beads!

A  lot of folks put in a lot of hard work for a great day for all.

Hold that pose, kids.

Jeannie Tracy and Alex Newell perform.

The boys and girls of Babson College.

The ribbon-cutting came at the start of the parade at the corner of Boylston and Clarendon Streets, at the rainbow crosswalk that was painted especially for Boston Pride. From left to right: Sylvain Bruni (Boston Pride president), Lorrie Higgins (girlfriend of Mayor Walsh), Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Gov, Deval L. Patrick, his wife, Diane Patrick, and Linda DeMarco (Boston Pride vice president,)

Guarding the ranbow and a freelance lesbian hugger.

Boston boogies.