St. Pete Pride honored the 49 victims who were killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando with 10 seconds of silence for each victim, 17 total minutes of silence before the start of the annual LGBT Pride Parade.
- Orlando Pride representatives carried signs with victims' names
- Tribute "moving, heartfelt, emotional"
Before there was celebration at St. Pete Pride Saturday night, there was silence.
The 17 minutes of silence for the Pulse nightclub victims made for a solemn march to remember those who lost their lives living with pride on the night of June 12. The parade also honored those 49 victims with participants carrying signs bearing the names of the victims.
Paula Nabb was one of those carrying a name and a face with her while marching in the parade. Nabb said she felt a connection to the woman whose name she carried, Brenda McCool.
"I feel a connection to this mother who stood in front of her son and took a bullet for him because I would do the same thing," said Nabb.
Nabb went on to say she felt she would come away from today with strength.
"More strength than I thought possible under circumstances like these," said Nabb, "but to also remind me to keep the fight alive for equality, and it just motivates me more to do what we do."