Local
Gay marriage opponent is consultant for Orange
Mathis-Lloyd says Orange continues to support marriage equality, despite hiring Robert King
Pro-LGBT council member Vincent Orange has hired marriage foe Robert King as a consultant. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
One of the leading advocates for overturning D.C.’s same-sex marriage law through a voter referendum has served as a paid campaign consultant for At-Large City Council member Vincent Orange’s re-election campaign, according to records filed with the Office of Campaign Finance.
Estell Mathis-Lloyd, chief of staff for Orange’s Council office, said the decision by the Orange campaign to retain Ward 5 ANC Commissioner Robert King as a consultant is “absolutely not” a signal that Orange may be backing away from his support for the marriage equality law, which the Council passed in 2009.
“He does continue to support marriage equality,” Mathis-Lloyd said of Orange.
OCF records show that the Orange campaign paid King $750 as a consulting fee on Dec. 11, 2011.
Orange, a former Ward 5 Council member, came out against same-sex marriage when he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2006. He said he changed his position shortly before he ran for the at-large Council seat in a special election in 2011 and now strongly supports the city law that legalized same-sex marriage. He says he has been a longtime supporter of other LGBT issues.
Through his consulting firm King & Associates, King received more than $60,000 in 2010 from the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage to organize a campaign to overturn the city’s same-sex marriage law through a referendum. When the city’s board of elections and the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled that such a referendum could not be held because it would violate the city’s Human Rights Law, King joined anti-gay minister Harry Jackson in appealing the court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court upheld the appeals court decision, ending efforts to kill the gay marriage law through a referendum.
Mathis-Lloyd said the Orange campaign retained King as a consultant because of his knowledge of Ward 5 issues.
Orange, a Democrat, is running in the April 3 D.C. Democratic primary for a full, four-year term for a Council seat he won last year in a special election. The seat became vacant after the 2010 election, in which Council member Kwame Brown, who held the seat, won election to the post of Council chair.
Orange is being challenged in the primary by Democrat Sekou Biddle, who ran against him in 2010; D.C. political newcomer Peter Shapiro, a former Prince George’s County Council member; and community activist E. Gail Anderson Holness.
According to the Jan. 31 filing with the Office of Campaign Finance, Orange was ahead in campaign funds raised, with $145,220. OCF records show Shapiro was in second place in money raised, with $90,291, followed by Biddle, who raised $45,686; and Holness, who raised $2,944 as of Jan. 31. OCF records show that $50,000 in the total amount raised by Shapiro came from loans.
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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