Are you a friend of Dorothy?
Since World War II, the coded question has been used to determine whether someone is queer. Now, Dorothy Edwards is using the phrase as the name for the first-ever LGBTQ+ focused cafe in Alexandria. For the last several months, Edwards has been raising money to cover six months of operating expenses at a yet-to-be-determined space, build-out of the space, and equipment. She says that once the cafe is up and running, it’s all she wants to do for the rest of her life.
Edwards, her wife, and son moved to Alexandria in 2021. A dance team coach at Annandale High School, she says she was inspired to open the cafe after founding the ALX Queer Moms social group last year.
“I have moms driving an hour one-way to come to meet up so that queer moms with families like mine and their kids can meet up monthly,” Edwards told ALXnow. “Initially, it was supposed to be for people in Alexandria, but it has grown to the greater DMV area.”
Edwards continued, “I can’t imagine my life without this community, and I don’t want to see Alexandria without this space any longer, and honestly, I’m planning to run it for the rest of my life.”
Edwards launched a GoFundMe in June and has raised more than $7,500. At the end of the day, with all of her fundraising efforts, she wants to raise $180,000.
“Queer and trans families have been around forever,” Edwards said. “We’re not new, and we’re not going anywhere, and I think this is exactly the time to come together, to find our community, to build our community more, strengthen it, and protect it.”
Edwards wants the cafe to sell beer and wine, cider, coffee, tea, pastries, and grab-and-go food. She’d like to sell items from queer and trans makers, artists, and artisans from around the region, and envisions rotating art exhibits highlighting work from local queer and trans artists. Additionally, she’d like to include trivia nights, drag show,s and story time for kids.
Edwards is hosting a fundraiser at Continues Arcade 1050 N. Fayette Street on Monday, Nov. 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event features a silent auction and drag performances from Makayla Starr, Kora Edge, Orpheus Rose, and Nubia Love-Jackson.
“I have been making really wonderful connections in the Alexandria small business space with people who have climbed this ladder and gone through these hurdles, and who are helping to pull me along behind them,” she said.
