• by Tanya Gazdik , June 5, 2023

Visit Philadelphia is launching a public service announcement in partnership with CBS New York and CBS Philadelphia that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.

The 30-second TV spot features Philadelphia drag queens Brittany Lynn and Morgan Wells taking turns reading the children’s book “Giraffes Can’t Dance," which features an inclusive message.

The total ad value of the PSA is over a quarter of a million dollars -- a testament to Visit Philadelphia’s commitment to ensuring that all visitors feel invited and welcomed to the city, according to the tourism group.

The audience includes a group of children and their parents in front of Independence Hall and concludes by displaying the message: “In Pursuit of A More Perfect Union,” with the word “perfect” rotating on screen into the words “kind” and “respectful.”

The video was shown Sunday at the Philadelphia Gay News Pride Brunch and Stonewall Awards and makes its television premiere today on CBS affiliates in New York and Philadelphia

“We were inspired to juxtapose Independence Hall, the very birthplace of our nation and where some of the first gay rights protests in the country were held, with this drag queen storytime,” said Neil Frauenglass, chief marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia, says in a  release.

According to a recent study of LGBTQ travelers to Philadelphia by market research firm Ipsos, two thirds (63%) of respondents cited Philadelphia as an LGBTQ-friendly destination. 

The marketing organization is also currently running print and digital advertisements with Q Digital, Philadelphia Gay News and Washington Blade, among others. 

Messaging includes the phrase “Philly's kind of a drag, and we're OK with that. Come for Philadelphia. Stay for Philly," doubling down on support for the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers. 

Visit Philadelphia will also promote the PSA via a new video series on its social media channels throughout Pride Month. 

The additional clips will feature Lynn and Wells visiting iconic Philadelphia sites and locations, including the National Constitution Center.