MANHATTAN (CN) - The show will go on but with heightened security, as New York City's Pride Parade kicks off in the wake of the Orlando gay bar shooting that left 50 dead and at least 50 others maimed.
Pride spokesman James Fallarino said Thursday that canceling any of the events at the nation's largest Pride festival next week would mean "allowing people trying to silence us to win."
"And we can't allow that to happen," Fallarino said.
"I'll be there," the spokesman added.
Fallarino described plans for an "increased police presence" and increased security guards for the June 26 parade. Historically, millions are drawn every year to the colorful march, which begins at noon along Fifth Avenue and 36th Street, then hooks west to end on Christopher Street, the gay mecca of Greenwich Village.
New Yorkers in the gay community vowed to keep the festivities going even after 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., where he was said to be a regular.
Mateen killed 49 people Sunday, and died himself in a firefight with police, making it the largest mass shooting in U.S. history.
The city of Orlando listed the names and ages of the victims on its website Thursday, offering "heartfelt condolences," and adding that the "city is with you and will continue to be with you as you deal with this unimaginable tragedy."
The gay community continues to reel from the devastation. "As we all continue to process the terrible act of violence that struck the Orlando LGBT community, we wanted to take a moment to let you all know what is happening at NYC Pride to ensure the safety of millions of people who will attend our events over the next two weeks," said New York City Pride co-chairs Maryanne Roberto Fine and David Studinski in a letter on its website.
"All events will continue to go on as scheduled," they wrote. "The reason for this is simple: we must never let those who wish to silence us win."
Fallarino was mum on whether there would be vigils or tributes to the victims at the march, though scuttlebutt in the community has it that survivors of the attacks will be in attendance.
At least one gay activist on Manhattan voiced indecision Friday about attending next Sunday's parade.
"This is a strange and scary year," said Bill Dobbs, an authority in the community and legal affairs throughout the city who has marched in at least a dozen Pride festivals throughout the years.
Citing the presidential race, and the "killings and carnage in Orlando," Dobbs said: "It's not clear yet what's in the future."
"There's some people who just want to go about their lives and refuse to cave in to fear, and there are others who want to work on gun control ... that would protect LGBT people from discrimination," he added.
Dobbs also noted that the shootings in Orlando switched the focus within the LGBT community from pushing for federal anti-discrimination legislation and "derailed the No. 1 item" toward gun control.
The city's Pride organization said it has been "in communication with the NYPD and our private security team" to "adjust our existing security protocols in light of the Orlando attacks."