Famed Drag Performers and 263
Attendees Gathered on
Philadelphia's Iconic
Independence Mall to Make History
PHILADELPHIA, June 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, today
secured a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the "largest
attendance at a drag queen story time reading." To kick off Pride
Month, the Philadelphia Gay News hosted the event, sponsored
by Visit Philadelphia®, which brought together famed Philadelphia drag performers to read
children's stories to a record-setting audience of 263 people.
Taking place at the National Constitution Center, the country's
leading place for constitutional education and debate, this
achievement strengthens and reinforces Philadelphia's reputation as a welcoming
destination for all.
Brittany Lynn, drag performer,
LGBTQIA+ activist, literacy advocate and head of the award-winning
Philly Drag Mafia, served as emcee for the event, featuring the
following books and performers:
- Hello, Philadelphia!,
written and illustrated by Martha Day
Zschock and read by Brittany
Lynn
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
- 'Twas the Night Before Pride, written by Joanna McClintick, illustrated by Juana
Medina and read by Aurora
Publisher: Candlewick
- Elmer, written and illustrated by David Mckee and read by Icon Ebony Fierce
Publisher: HarperCollins
- The Family Book, written and illustrated by Todd Parr and read by Athena Chanteuse
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Kevin the Unicorn: It's Not All Rainbows, written
and illustrated by Jessika von
Innerebner and read by Morgan
Wells
Publisher: Dial Books
"Philadelphia is where our
country was founded, where the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed, and where
some of the most significant LGBTQIA+ moments in U.S. history took
place," said Mark Segal, publisher
of Philadelphia Gay News. "Creating history-making moments
like we've done today, hosted on land synonymous with our country's
fight for fundamental rights and freedom, serves as a powerful
reminder of the resiliency, talent and culture that make up the
fabric of our great American city."
"To start Pride Month with the world's largest drag story time
in Philadelphia is extraordinarily
fitting for the birthplace of freedom and modern democracy," said
Neil Frauenglass, chief marketing
officer at Visit Philadelphia. "Last summer, Visit Philadelphia
hosted a small drag story time in front of Independence Hall that
we filmed and used as part of a national TV spot, so it was only
fitting for us to support a bigger, bolder, record-setting version
this year. The event aligned perfectly with our In Pursuit of a
More Perfect Union series that highlights Philadelphia as an inclusive and welcoming
place for all – and that's exactly what Philadelphia Gay News
demonstrated for the world today."
For more details on how visitors can celebrate Pride Month in
Philadelphia all month long, go to
https://bit.ly/VisitPhiladelphiaPrideMonth.
ABOUT PHILADELPHIA GAY
NEWS
The Philadelphia Gay News is the area's largest and
oldest publication targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Started in 1976,
PGN reaches, builds rapport with and listens to our readers and
supporters — as well as our critics.
Media Contacts:
Eva
Wasko
Allen & Gerritsen
610-762-5788
Dan Pettine
Allen & Gerritsen
481-941-1097
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SOURCE Philadelphia Gay News