Alexandria Mom Launches Campaign for ‘Friends of Dorothy’ LGBTQ+ Family Café
Fundraising Efforts Underway to Launch Queer, Family-Friendly Gathering Spot
Alexandria, VA – Local mom and community organizer Dorothy Edwards is on a mission to open Friends of Dorothy, the city’s first-ever queer family café — and she’s inviting the community to help make it happen.
She plans to call it the Friends of Dorothy Cafe, a Neighborhood Queer Café, and has the Instagram going already.
“The name ‘Friends of Dorothy’ comes from a phrase once used by queer people to identify each other discreetly during a time when being out was much more dangerous,” Edwards explains. And of course, Edwards is also named Dorothy, so it works both ways.
The term draws from Dorothy Gale, the beloved character from The Wizard of Oz (1939), portrayed by Judy Garland. Garland herself became an iconic figure within the gay community—often referred to as a gay icon—because of her resilience, vulnerability, and the way her personal struggles resonated with LGBTQ+ individuals facing marginalization.
In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s journey—leaving Kansas, befriending outcasts, and longing for a place where she belonged—mirrored the experience of many queer people. The line “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” became a kind of unofficial anthem of hope and longing for acceptance.
Because of Dorothy’s symbolic status and Garland’s widespread appeal among gay people, saying “I’m a friend of Dorothy” became a coded way of saying “I’m gay” without explicitly saying so.
“This isn’t just about espresso and pastries,” says Edwards. “It’s about building a space where queer families and allies can feel truly at home.”
Edwards says she has identified a need for such a place in Alexandria. “I started a group for queer moms over a year ago called ALX Queer Moms, with members from all over the DMV. Once I saw the hunger for this kind of family-centered queer space in NOVA, I started dreaming up this idea and working on the business plan.”
The vision?
A cozy, colorful café serving:
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Coffee, wine, and light fare from queer and trans vendors in the DMV
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Handmade goods and rotating art from LGBTQ+ makers
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Family-friendly events like drag story hours, trivia nights, open mics, and more
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A community hub where joy, creativity, and belonging take center stage
Dorothy and her wife are raising their kids right here in Alexandria and say they’ve long dreamed of creating a space like this — one rooted in queer history (yes, the name “Friends of Dorothy” is a nod to vintage LGBTQ+ code culture!) and focused on the future.
I am also committed to using queer and trans vendors for our coffee, wine, and food. But I also want people to know that this will be more than just a cafe – I’m also really excited about the idea of an artisan marketplace that will be a part of this space – partnering with queer and trans artists and makers from across the DMV to showcase and sell their work.” — Dorothy Edwards, Friends of Dorothy Cafe Owner
To turn this dream into a reality, they’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign to get the café off the ground. Every donation brings them closer to opening the doors to a space filled with laughter, art, coffee, and connection.
Want to help? Donate or learn more here: https://gofund.me/e4eaea15
Follow along on Instagram @friendsofdorothycafe
