News
Second USAID-backed training in Colombia scheduled
Four-day gathering to take place in Cartagena from Aug. 28-Sept. 1.
Wilson Castañeda of the Colombian LBGT advocacy group Caribe Afirmativo. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)
An invitation sent to the Washington Blade on Monday said the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute, along with Caribe Afirmativo, an LGBT advocacy group that works in cities along Colombia’s Caribbean coastline, and Colombia Diversa, a national LGBT rights organization based in Bogotá, the country’s capital, will conduct the training in Cartagena from Aug. 28-Sept. 1.
Running for political office, implementing an effective media strategy and connecting with voters are among the topics that will be discussed during the four day-gathering. A public event with openly LGBT politicians and elected officials is also expected to take place.
“The strengthening of the capacities of LGBT leaders who seek to rise to public office is essential to solidify the advances towards complete equality in Colombia,” the invitation reads.
The Cartagena gathering will take place roughly three months after 30 LGBT advocates from across Colombia attended a training in Bogotá that the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute, Caribe Afirmativo and Colombia Diversa co-sponsored.
The Bogotá training was the first of the LGBT Global Development Partnership, a USAID-backed public private partnership designed to promote LGBT rights around the world, to take place. The Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute, the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency, the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law and other groups will contribute $11 million over the next four years to LGBT advocacy groups in Colombia, Ecuador and other developing countries.
The Cartagena training will also take place slightly more than two months after gays and lesbians began to petition registrars and judges to legally recognize their relationships.
Colombia’s Constitutional Court in 2011 ruled same-sex couples could legally register their relationship in two years if the country’s lawmakers did not pass a bill that would extend to them the same benefits heterosexuals receive through marriage.
Colombian lawmakers in April overwhelmingly rejected a bill that would have extended marriage rights to gays and lesbians. The court’s June 20 deadline passed amid confusion as to whether gays and lesbians could actually tie the knot in the South American country because the Constitutional Court’s decision did not include the word “marriage.”
Several notaries said they would allow same-sex couples to enter into a “solemn contract” that is similar to an agreement into which two people enter whey they purchase a home together, as opposed to a civil marriage. A Bogotá judge last week said a gay couple could tie the knot in a ceremony that is scheduled to take place on July 24.
Advocate: LGBT advocates can learn from their U.S. counterparts
Caribe Afirmativo Director Wilson Castañeda Castro, who visited the United States in April with a group of other Colombian LGBT rights advocates on a State Department-sponsored trip, told the Blade during an interview at the Bogotá training that he feels his fellow activists can continue to learn from their American counterparts.
“In Colombia the LGBT community remains one of the most marginalized communities,” he said. “The U.S. visit allowed us to see first-hand experiences, situations, specific examples of people and institutions and organizations. We can take some of what we experienced [there] and apply it here in Colombia.”
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.
National
Madonna turns Times Square into massive dance floor
Pop icon celebrates Pride month with surprise performance
Pop icon Madonna celebrated Pride month with a pop-up performance in New York City’s Times Square on Thursday to the delight of 50,000 fans.
She performed for about 15 minutes high above street level, including several songs from her new album “Confessions II” due on July 3, along with a trio of songs from the first “Confessions on a Dance Floor.”
In addition to the brand new “Love Sensation,” she performed “I Feel So Free” and “Bring Your Love,” plus “Hung Up,” “Get Together” and “I Love New York.” She wished the crowd a happy Pride season; the event was shared with audiences through Grindr’s first-ever livestream.
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Emma LaPointe as its summer intern.
Emma is studying journalism, political science, and German studies at the University of Arizona. She is from Tucson, Ariz., and is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am super excited to spend my summer with the Washington Blade and to learn more about D.C.,” said Emma. “I have loved reporting on the LGBTQ+ community back in Tucson, and I am excited to continue the work here.”
Emma’s internship will end on July 31.
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