West Hollywood Drag Laureate Pickle has led several drag story hours with local students. (photo by Tony Coelho)

In 2026, the city of West Hollywood will coordinate with Guinness World Records to produce the largest drag story hour event in history. The city aims to set the world attendance record as a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, which Mayor Chelsea Byers noted is “facing increasing threats.”

“We recognize the need to demonstrate support and engaging the community in a record-breaking drag story hour as a fun and memorable way to show that we are resolved in our embrace of free expression, joy and inclusion,” she added.

Vice Mayor John Heilman went further in calling out the Trump administration for its attacks on the community.

“We need to do everything we can to support our entire community whether they are drag performers, transgender activists or LGBTQI refugees and immigrants,” Heilman said. “Supporting and highlighting all members of our community sends a strong signal that we will fight efforts to strip us of our rights and freedoms.”

Drag story hours are readings for children by drag performers, which are currently held regularly at West Hollywood Library. The current record for the largest story hour was set in 2024 in Philadelphia, when 263 people attended a Pride-affiliated event held at the National Constitution Center.

Drag performances have been the subject of right-wing attacks in recent years, with numerous legislative items passed in southern states attempting to outright ban drag performances. Virtually all of these bans have been challenged in court.

West Hollywood has a long association with drag performance, and installed its first drag laureate, Pickle the Drag Queen, last year. Its second will be chosen in 2026.

No specifics or funding allotment have been set. City staff will return to the council at a later date for further direction.

“Drag artists and LGBTQ+ culture have become targets of right-wing attacks in the current political climate,” Councilman Danny Hang said. “The city of West Hollywood, by organizing the largest drag story hour in history, will send a clear message of resilience, pride and strength. In West Hollywood, we celebrate drag and we won’t stand idly by as marginalized people in our nation and our community are targeted with hate and intolerance. Our hard-fought rights are under threat by the actions of the current federal administration. We must embrace visibility, culture and expression in affirming spaces.”