Oh, What Beautiful Sights, Beautiful People and Beautiful Community — Get Ready for WorldPride DC/Alexandria!

There’s something about the Upper East Coast that just hits different in spring. Maybe it’s the breeze off the river or the welcoming theme of pink cherry blossoms, like they’ve been waiting all winter to say “Hello.” Or, maybe it’s the people. Well, all of these factors were a part of my very first press trip to Alexandria, Va., covering the preparation for WorldPride; an experience that wrapped me up in a kind of warmth I didn’t know I needed.

Through the thoughtful planning of Visit Alexandria’s coordinating staff, Allison O’Keefe, Caroline Secrest, Claire Mouledoux, Todd O’Leary and Madden Media’s veteran facilitator, Meghan Gearino, to arrange coverage of this year’s WorldPride in the area, what I found was far more than a scenic “getaway.” I experienced a city that walks the walk when it comes to culture, community, network, hospitality and inclusion. I found inspiration and a different fuel of appreciation for fellowship. It’s as though this experience recentered me to live in the present with real people, doing real work.

From the moment I arrived in Old Town, Va., I felt it: that gentle blend of history bridging towards a reclaimed humanity. I touched the mason brick streets that not only guided us past boutiques but also to the current stories and memories, energy that still reverberated. Locals greeted me and others on the press team like we belonged, with warm smiles and encapsulating founder stories. Tucked into every moment was a quiet confidence and a reminder that this area was a landmark that carries consciousness and breathes life into those who take care of and occupy the area.

One of those folks is Gizem White, founder of Turkish Coffee Lady, where their 500-year-old brewing technique guarantees you’ll feel charged when you leave. This was a cultural bridge with an added experience of a micro art gallery painted from the coffee beans by the Microangelist.

Another is Jamie Fortin, founder of Friends to Lovers Bookstore, “the first romance bookstore in the D.C. metro area,” where you can flip through queer romance zines. Fortin expressed that its significance goes beyond novelty to become a space created by and for women as well as queer people — a bookstore with a mission to center narratives that have historically been pushed to the margins.

I kept thinking: “This city doesn’t just preserve — it progresses. And it makes room while doing so.”

One of the most powerful undercurrents of Alexandria wasn’t listed on the itinerary — but it showed up in every commute, every conversation and every introduction: networking.

The kind that feels human. That says, “We see each other, and we might be able to build something together.” The theme of edifying businesses and their people is Visit Alexandria’s mission and heartbeat, which creates a platform for WorldPride. An initiative to highlight founders is the very lifeline that has brings travelers from all over to visit the niche offerings only found in this area.

For instance, where can you find cherry blossom-infused popcorn? Or beautiful murals painted inside the boutiques by Virginia locals? Well, at Made in VA, a business that enriches local artists and creators. Over the three-day trip, there were beautiful examples of creativity and innovation. ­­Speaking with Morgan Pepin, Made in VA’s director of retail, reminded us that economic development is deeply relational, and that their business model proved that success doesn’t have to be gatekept — it can be distributed, shared and grown through community investment.­­

While down by the Potomac River, it was fitting to fellowship over oysters at Hank’s Oyster Bar, an LGBTQ+-owned coastal staple in the heart of Alexandria — and one of the most unexpectedly grounding parts of the entire trip. Hank’s was where our group had our first meal together and connected by sharing stories, flix suggestions and comedic relief. Although this was my first press trip and first time with this incredible group, I felt welcomed and seen. At the dinner table, we met with Visit Alexandria’s President and CEO, Todd O’Leary, as well as Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Claire Mouledoux. Leaders who understood the importance of community and inclusivity.

Alexandria is full of spaces where people gather, not just to experience but also to connect. Where a team dinner isn’t just about calories and hydration, but rather about stories, laughter and emotional fuel. Each day was full of energy, met with evenings of comfort at the Heron Hotel, the most recently renovated hotel on the block. The amenities were numerous as we took a tour with Harry Francis, its upbeat Director of Lifestyle, as well as its General Manager, Matt Karow, and learned more about the hotel’s culture and events.

Alexandria, Va., sets the tone for inviting spaces and exemplifies the phrase “control what you can.” Even though there has been public expression to cancel diversity, equity and inclusion, Alexandria has been an anchor to highlight and protect all that allows us to be … us! City of Alexandria’s LGBTQ+ Task Force has been the light on The Hill. Its chair, Diana Maurer, and Staff Facilitator Erika Kleiner have been soldiers in creating safe spaces necessary for the cultivation of inclusive service provision to members of the LGBTQ+ people and communities in the City of Alexandria.

Just as LGBTQ+ adults need spaces to be heard and seen, so do our youth. Safe Space NOVA, founded by Charles Costen-Sumpter and his husband, Jordan L. Costen-Sumpter, is a safe space for youth that is geared towards facilitating and supporting them through challenges they may encounter.

In many ways, preparing for WorldPride was the unexpected mirror, showing me what’s possible when community, culture and intentional coordination come together. Every conversation, every storefront, every shared story gave me something that theory alone can’t: a living example of what it means to create spaces that affirm, include and inspire. It reminded me that the work takes all of us. It’s not just the responsibility of a single individual or social programming — it lives in how we gather, how we listen and how we build with purpose.

As Alexandria prepares for WorldPride, they have expressed their excitement to host this monumental event with intentions towards continued growth. I only got a taste of what many can expect to experience. The platform has been building and emphasizes that although we are complex humans, we can still lead with empathy, cultural fluency and collective strength. What Alexandria gave me was more than inspiration — it was direction. And now, as a people, we have the right to move forward with that clarity, ready to build a future that’s just as intentional as the spaces and events that continue to shape it.

World Pride is ready for you … Are you ready for it?

WorldPride takes place from May 17 to June 8. To learn more, please visit their website, worldpridedc.org

This article was updated May 27 to correct two errors: incorrectly referring to Madden Media as “Maven Media” and incorrectly describing Made in VA as LGBTQ+-owned.