Guinness World Record for most attended drag story time reading set in Philadelphia
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An LGBTQ+ publication in Philadelphia has claimed the record for the largest attendance at a drag queen story time reading, according to Guinness World Records.
An LGBTQ+ publication in Philadelphia has claimed the record for the largest attendance at a drag queen story time reading, according to Guinness World Records. Drag queens read books to 263 people at the city’s National Constitution Center last Saturday during an event hosted by the Philadelphia Gay News and sponsored by tourism agency Visit Philadelphia, according to Guinness and the organizers. “Considering the fact that there are so many negative pieces of legislation in various states, primarily against the trans community and drag community, we thought it was very important that Philadelphia showed (it) is quite different than all those other places,” said Mark Segal, founder and publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News. “I was thinking all the time, ‘Here we are, doing this incredible record-breaking act and is exactly what America is all about: the pursuit of happiness,’” added Segal, an activist for LGBTQ+ rights who participated in the 1969 Stonewall riots. Adults and children who gathered on the first day of Pride Month at the event listened to several performers who read “’Twas the Night Before Pride” by Joanna McClintick, “Elmer” by David McKee, “The Family Book” by Todd Parr and “Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows” by Jessika von Innerebner, organizers said. Brittany Lynn, an activist and performer who has led and organized a drag queen story time program in the city for nearly a decade, read “Hello, Philadelphia!” by Martha Day Zschock. Lynn said the books were curated to center around themes of love, diversity and acceptance.
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