For LGBTQ Pride Month, the city of Philadelphia set a new Guinness World Record for the “largest attendance at a drag queen story time reading,” the event organizers confirmed.

Held at the National Constitution Center on Saturday, the gathering drew “several hundred people” to participate in establishing the record, as reported by WHYY.

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During the story time, 263 individuals had the opportunity to enjoy drag queens reading children’s books. The event was hosted by Philadelphia Gay News and sponsored by Visit Philadelphia, the city’s official tourism program. A representative from the Guinness World Records was present to formally adjudicate the record-setting.

Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News, emphasized the significance of the event being hosted in Philadelphia, stating, “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,” as reported by NBC 10 Philadelphia. Segal further noted, “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.”

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However, amidst the celebratory atmosphere, some social media users raised concerns about the relatively low turnout, with fewer than 300 attendees in a city of nearly 1.6 million. Criticisms suggested that the event underscored an attempt by “a vocal minority” to sexualize children.

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In a related context, it is noteworthy that Guinness World Records also recognized a record for the most-attended drag brunch, featuring only 412 participants who gathered in New York City (population 8,260,000 as of 2023) for a June 2023 event hosted by H&M, Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and Gayletter.

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