Local
Webb vote leaves many supporters disappointed
Va. senator opposes ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal measure
Many LGBT Virginians are disappointed at U.S. Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-Va.) vote against overturning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Webb, a former Navy Secretary, was the sole Democrat to vote May 27 against an amendment to defense budget legislation that aims to repeal the military’s ban on open service by gays and lesbians. He’s chair of the Armed Services Committee Personnel Subcommittee.
In a statement released the day of the vote, Webb said he was waiting for the completion of a Department of Defense review on the matter and cited a May 24 White House letter and chiefs of all four military branches who concur that the study should be completed before Congress takes legislative action.
“I see no reason to pre-empt the process that our senior Defense Department leaders put into motion and I am concerned that many members of the military would view such a move as disrespectful to the importance of their roles in this process,” he said in the statement.
But several gay activists in Virginia and beyond who are following the repeal effort didn’t buy Webb’s explanation. Others said they weren’t surprised by the vote, yet found it disappointing.
“This is not totally unexpected,” said Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Va.), the only openly gay member of the Virginia General Assembly. “When Sen. Webb was a candidate, he was candid in that he at that time said he did not support repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ I suppose that his stated willingness to look at the reports demonstrates a small bit of progress, but when conservative Democrats vote to repeal the policy and move forward, it is extremely disappointing that Sen. Webb did not join them.”
Webb has supported other gay rights legislation. He voted for the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which Congress passed last year; he’s signed on as a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act; and he opposes Virginia’s Marshall-Newman amendment, which bans same-sex marriage. He also made an appearance at a gay fundraiser in Arlington by Virginia Partisans when he was running for his Senate seat.
Several observers said there are enough provisions in the legislation regarding implementation that Webb’s concerns were unwarranted.
“We were disappointed with the senator’s vote because we felt the provision addressed all of the possible procedural issues,” said Claire Gastanaga, general counsel for Equality Virginia. “The way this is structured, the vote wasn’t on the process. This was just putting Congress on record that they support the decision. To cite the process is misplaced at this juncture.”
Virginia Partisans members are planning a letter to Webb to express their disappointment.
“This is legalized discrimination,” said Terry Mansberger, the group’s president. “This is a stall tactic. They’ve built into the legislation enough of a timetable to implement the repeal, but Webb is insisting on even longer time and more study. We don’t know what’s going to happen in Congress in November. We have the majority now and a supportive president. It’s time to move and not blow a golden opportunity. We can’t wait.”
The Human Rights Campaign and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network denounced Webb’s vote.
“There were many lawmakers who stood on the right side of history, but Sen. Webb disappointingly voted to maintain the kind of discrimination that hurts our national security,” said Michael Cole, an HRC spokesperson. “If you are interested in giving the military the tools they need to allow for open service, then the right vote would have been to repeal the law now with implementation pending the review.”
And SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said the White House letter Webb cited is not an acceptable explanation because the legislation stipulates that no repeal action will occur before the Pentagon’s recommendations are reviewed by the House and Senate Armed Services committees.
“We are terribly disappointed in the senator’s vote,” Sarvis said in an e-mail. “He wrapped himself up in the procedure and failed to stand up and do the right thing.”
Maryland
‘Girlfriends’ wanted for murder in Silver Spring, Md.
Montgomery County police say two charged with killing mother of one of them
The Montgomery County, Md., Department of Police announced on June 4 that it is seeking the public’s help in locating two women, who they identify as a couple, who are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing the mother of one of them.
In a statement police identified the two women as Vanessa Tjongarero-Henderson of Clarksburg, Md., and her girlfriend Samantha Raebel of Phoenix, Ariz. The statement says the two are charged with the murder of Hilde Henderson, 67, the mother of Vanessa.
According to the statement, officers with the department’s 3rd District found Hilde Henderson deceased on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at her home at the Charter House apartments in the 1300 block of Fenwick Lane in Silver Spring after being called to check on the resident’s welfare.
“Henderson was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy was conducted,” the statement says. “The cause of death was ruled a homicide.”
It adds, “Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified Henderson’s daughter, Vanessa Tjongarero-Henderson and Vanessa’s girlfriend, Raeble, as the suspects.” It says detectives obtained an arrest warrant against the two women, charging both with first-degree murder.
“Anyone with information regarding the location of these suspects or this crime is asked to call 911 or to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, Md. website at crimesolversmcmd.org,” the statement says, or to call the tip line at 1-866-411-8477.
“Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000,” it says, adding that tips may remain anonymous.
A spokesperson for Montgomery County police didn’t immediately respond to a request from the Washington Blade for information not disclosed in the police statement, including the physical-medical cause of death for Hilde Henderson and whether detectives have determined a motive for the murder.
District of Columbia
D.C. Latinx Pride celebrates culture and heritage
Your guide to events throughout June
Organizers with the Latinx History Project have planned a host of events this Pride season with parties, poetry, drag and more.
The festivities begin with the DC Latinx Pride 2026 Kickoff at Crush Dance Bar (2007 14th Street, N.W.) on Friday, June 12 from 6-10 p.m. The party will include a coronation ceremony for the 2026 Royal Court: Ms. DC Latinx Pride Vida Rangel and Mx. DC Latinx Pride Steph Niaupari. RSVP at latinxhistoryproject.org. The event is free, though donations are accepted.
An outdoor event is planned for Sunday, June 14 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Anacostia River Park (1500 Anacostia Dr., S.E.). Cultivating Queer Outdoor Joy is a “peaceful outdoor community event focused on grounding, connection, and queer joy in nature.” The event is free.
A panel discussion is planned for The Festival Center (1640 Columbia Rd., N.W., 2nd floor) on Monday, June 15 from 6-8 p.m. La Plática: The Future of 2 Spirits and Trans Natives will focus upon the “stories, leadership and vision of Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer and Trans Native people.” RSVP to the free event at latinxhistoryproject.org.
A sex-positive poetry workshop, “Hoetry: Writing Erotic Poetry,” is planned for Wednesday, June 17 from 6-8 p.m. at The Festival Center (1640 Columbia Road, N.W.). The event is free.
The workshop So You Wanna Do Drag? is planned for Thursday, June 18 from 5:30-8 p.m. at The Festival Center (1640 Columbia Road, N.W.). Featured guests Ricky Rose and Mari Con Carne will hold a style showcase to discuss the basics of developing a drag persona. RSVP to the free event at latinxhistoryproject.org.
The Latinx History Project is collaborating with Rumba Queer DC to produce an official Latinx Pride Party: Sin Vergüenza. The event is at the multi-level venue, Transmission (1353 H Street, N.E.) on Thursday, June 18 from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. There are dance lessons, vendors and three different music experiences in the sprawling venue. There will also be a drag showcase from 10-11 p.m. The event is 21+ and tickets are available at shotgun.live/en/events/sin-verguenza. Tickets are $15 for entry into the party. Tickets to participate in the dance lesson are $29.98. Participants may choose between a bachata lesson or a salsa lesson from 7-8 p.m.
La Fiesta: Official DC Latinx Pride Party is planned for Friday, June 19 from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. at Bunker (2001 14th Street, N.W.). Serena Morena from “Drag Race México” and “Drag Race UK vs The World” is slated to headline the 21+ event. Early tickets are available for $15 (plus $0.38 service fee) until June 16. The door cover charge without early tickets is $20. Attendees can also purchase a meet and greet experience with Serena Morena for $30. Tickets are available at latinxhistoryproject.org.
The Latinx History Project plans to march in the Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 20 and to have a table at the Capital Pride Festival on Sunday, June 21. Visit latinxhistoryproject.org to register to march alongside LGP in the parade or to staff the table at the festival.
The DC Latinx Pride 2026 Closing Event is scheduled for Friday, June 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Mexican Cultural Institute (2829 16th Street, N.W.). The free event is a panel discussion “centering the experiences of immigrants who have lived in Latin America and now call the United States home.”
Visit latinxhistoryproject.org for more information.
District of Columbia
JR.’s hosts meet & greet for mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George
Event organized by Capital Stonewall Democrats, Queers for Janeese
D.C. mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George spoke to a crowd of LGBTQ supporters on June 1 at a meet & greet event held at JR.’s on 17th Street in the Dupont Circle neighborhood.
The event, organized by Capital Stonewall Democrats, which has endorsed Lewis George for mayor, with support from a group called Queers for Janeese, was followed by a “get out the vote” canvassing endeavor in which several of those attending the meet & greet visited the homes of nearby residents known to be Lewis George supporters.
The purpose of the canvassing was to remind Lewis George supporters to return their mail-in ballots or go to the polls on June 16 to elect Lewis George as the city’s next mayor, according to Matthew Kavanagh, one of the leaders of Queers for Janeese who attended the meet & greet event at JR.’s.
Local political observers consider Lewis George, a Ward 4 D.C. Council member, and former At-Large D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie, to be the two leading candidates in this year’s race for mayor. The two are among seven mayoral candidates competing in the city’s June 16 Democratic primary.
Lewis George told those attending the meet & greet, which was held on the JR.’s outdoor patio, that she has a long record of advocating for and initiating city polices and laws in support of the LGBTQ community. She said large corporate donors were backing her opponents and urged her LGBTQ supporters to help raise funds for her in the remaining days of the campaign.
Among those attending the meet & greet was gay longtime Dupont Circle civic activist Randy Downs who last November opened a nearby eatery called Protest Pizza. “I am queer and I am a Janeese supporter,” Downs told the Blade.
Stevie McCarty, president of Capital Stonewall Democrats, who also spoke at the meet & greet event, said his group would organize events in support of Lewis George in the remaining days of the campaign. Among them, he said, was an LGBTQ bar crawl in which supporters of Lewis George, including the candidate herself, would visit LGBTQ bars to promote her candidacy.
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DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
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