BlerDCon comes to the nation's capital to celebrate diversity, Black nerd culture

ARLINGTON, Va. (WJLA) — Venture into the Hyatt Crystal City this weekend to experience BlerDCon: a glorious gathering celebrating diversity and Black nerd culture.

“It’s a congregation or like we like to call it, a cookout for the Black nerd community. We come. We have fun. We engage in nerd culture that’s adjacent to Black culture but it’s not Black exclusive. Everyone is welcome but you get to see the culture in its perspective from a different point of view," said attendee Rondreka Pitts of Louisiana.

It’s a no-judgment zone unless you’re geeking out over an amazing hand-crafted outfit or personally created a character like Rondreka Pitts' bedazzled pastel costumes.

“I love dressing in alternative fashion primarily pastel and neon Harajuku fashion and I do themed outfits on however I’m feeling mostly. There was a point and time in my life where I felt like I had to be straight and narrow, and this may be a shock to you but I’m an accountant by trade," Pitts said.

It’s a sense of community. This is literally a safe space. I can literally just be myself," said Stefanie Nosalik, who dressed as a dark fairy.

Ricky Bryant Jr. showed us his complex costume.

“This top part came from Joann Fabrics, and this is basically the bottom of a Wookiee costume. I kind of went with this because I always wanted to be a monster," Bryant Jr. said.

Who doesn’t want to be a monster, or a dark fairy, or whatever sometimes? Be you in all your glory. That’s BlerDCon.