Local
Orange edges Biddle, wins D.C. primary
Supporters say he will be an LGBT ally despite a low rating by GLAA
Vincent Orange won the Democratic primary for City Council after absentee ballots were counted. The April 3 race was initially too close to call as Orange led Sekou Biddle by just 523 votes.
D.C. Council member Vincent Orange (D-At-Large), who emerged last Friday as the winner in the city’s April 3 Democratic primary, will be a strong supporter of the LGBT community, according to gay Democratic activist Barry Doneker.
Doneker, a longtime Orange supporter, is first vice president of the Ward 5 Democrats and treasurer of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the city’s largest LGBT political group.
“I have no doubt in my mind that he will be a good friend of our community,” said Doneker.
The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics on April 13 declared Orange the winner over Democratic rival Sekou Biddle in a four-candidate race after it completed the counting of absentee and provisional ballots.
On the day following the April 3 primary, the board said the race was too close to call, with Orange leading Biddle by just 523 votes. As many as 3,000 absentee and provisional ballots remained to be counted.
When those ballots were counted, Orange’s lead over Biddle increased to 1,746 votes, with a final tally of 40.39 percent for Orange and 37.41 percent for Biddle.
A Washington Blade analysis of voter precincts shows that Biddle beat Orange in 12 of 14 precincts considered to have high concentrations of LGBT residents.
The Stein Club didn’t make an endorsement in the race after no candidate was able to obtain a required 60 percent vote from the membership for an endorsement. Club members were divided between Biddle, Orange and Democratic challenger Peter Shapiro, who received 10.56 percent of the vote in the primary.
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, a nonpartisan group, gave Biddle a rating of +5.5 percent on LGBT-related issues compared to a +0.5 percent rating for Orange. The group’s ratings are based on a scale of +10, the highest possible rating, to -10, the lowest rating.
Doneker said the GLAA rating didn’t accurately reflect Orange’s overall support and commitment on LGBT issues. GLAA says Orange lost rating points due to his support for a school voucher program, which the group says it opposes because it provides government funds to private religious schools that aren’t covered by the city’s non-discrimination laws. Orange also lost points for his opposition to cultivation centers for medical marijuana and licenses for nude dance clubs in Ward 5, and his initial support for making permanent prostitution free zones.
LGBT activists say the existing “prostitution free zones” law has been used to unfairly target transgender women for police harassment and arrest. Orange said he changed his mind and came out against making the prostitution free zones permanent.
Doneker points to Orange’s past support on issues such as funding for the city’s LGBT community center and his role as co-sponsor of a bill to make the Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs a permanent part of the city government. In 2006, Orange came out against a same-sex marriage law for D.C. He later changed his position on the issue and now says he fully supports the city law allowing same-sex couples to marry.
District of Columbia
Gay D.C. police lieutenant arrested on child porn charges
Matthew Mahl once served as head of LGBT Liaison Unit
D.C. police announced on April 14 that they have placed one of their lieutenants, Matthew Mahl, on administrative leave and revoked his police powers after receiving information that he was arrested in Maryland one day earlier.
Although the initial D.C. police announcement doesn’t disclose the reason for the arrest it refers to a statement by the Harford County, Md. Sheriff’s Office that discloses Mahl has been charged with sexual solicitation of a minor and child porn solicitation.
“On Tuesday, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office contacted MPD’s Internal Affairs Division shortly after arresting Lieutenant Matthew Mahl,” the D.C. police statement says.
“The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing, and in direct contrast to the values of the Metropolitan Police Department,” the statement continues. “MPD’s Internal Affairs Division will investigate violations of MPD policy once the criminal investigation concludes,” it says.
“MPD is not involved in the criminal investigation and was not aware of the investigation until yesterday,” the statement adds.
Mahl served as acting supervisor of the MPD’s then Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit in 2013 when he held the rank of sergeant. D.C. police officials placed him on administrative leave and suspended his police powers that same year while investigating an undisclosed allegation.
A source familiar with the investigation said Mahl was cleared of any wrongdoing a short time later and resumed his police duties. Around the time he was promoted to lieutenant several years later Mahl took on the role as chairman of the D.C. Police Union, becoming the first known openly gay officer to hold that position.
NBC 4 reports that Mahl, 47, has served on the police force for 23 years and most recently was assigned to the department’s Special Operations Division.
Records related to Mahl’s arrest filed in Harford County District Court, show Sheriff’s Department investigators state in charging documents that he allegedly committed the offenses of Sexual Solicitation of a Minor and Child Porn Solicitation on Monday, April 13, one day before he was arrested on April 14.
The court records show he was held without bond during his first appearance in court on April 14. A decision on whether he would be released while awaiting trial or continue to be held without bond was scheduled to be determined during an April 15 bond hearing. The outcome of that hearing could not be immediately determined.
Maryland
Evan Glass is leaning on his record. Is that enough for Montgomery County’s top job?
Gay county executive candidate pushing for equitable pay, safer streets, and cleaner environment
By TALIA RICHMAN | During a meet-and-greet at Poolesville Memorial United Methodist Church, Evan Glass got his loudest applause of the night with a plan he acknowledged was decidedly unsexy.
“Day one, I’ll hire a director of permitting services,” the county executive candidate said.
Doing so, he added, is a step toward easing the regulatory burdens that can stifle small businesses in Montgomery County.
The only problem? At least one of his fiercest competitors is making a similar pledge.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
District of Columbia
D.C. bar, LGBTQ+ Community Center to mark Lesbian Visibility Week
‘Ahead of the Curve’ documentary screening, ‘Queeroke’ among events
2026 Lesbian Visibility Week North America will take place from April 20-26.
This year marks the third annual Lesbian Visibility Week, run by the Curve Foundation. A host of events take place from April 20-26.
This year’s theme is Health and Wellness. For the Curve Foundation, the term “lesbian” serves as an umbrella term for a host of identities, including lesbians, bisexual and transgender women, and anyone else connected to the lesbian community.
The week kicks off with a flag-raising ceremony on April 19. It will take place in New York, but will be livestreamed for the public.
“Queeroke” is one of the events being held around the country. It will take place at various participating bars on April 23.
As You Are, an LGBTQ bar in Capitol Hill, is one of eight locations across the U.S. participating. Their event is free and 21+.
On April 24, the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center will hold a screening of “Ahead of the Curve,” a documentary about the founder of Curve, Franco Stevens. The event is free with an RSVP.
April 25, is Queer Women in Sports Day. And on April 26, several monuments in New York will be illuminated.
Virtual events ranging from health to sports will be made available to the public. Details will be released closer to the start of Lesbian Visibility Week. Featured events can be found on the official website.
Some ways for individuals to get involved are to use #LVW26 and tag the official Lesbian Visibility Week account on social media posts. People are encouraged to display their lesbian flags, and businesses can hand out pins and decorate. They can also reach out to local lawmakers to encourage them to issue an official Lesbian Visibility Week.
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