Local
Eastern Shore inn to host Jan. 1 same-sex weddings
Owners of the Black Walnut Point Inn on Tilghman Island are among those to marry on New Year’s Day.
Tracy Staples and Bob Zuber, co-owners of the Black Walnut Point Inn in Tilghman Island, Md., are among the couples who will get married at the Eastern Shore resort on Jan. 1. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Staples and Bob Zuber)
Bob Zuber and Tracy Staples, who have owned the Black Walnut Point Inn on Tilghman Island for two and a half years, told the Washington Blade on Monday eight couples have booked Jan. 1 weddings on the property. Zuber said there’s a “whole bunch of other couples that are thinking about it, talking about it.”
Two If By Sea Café will host a pre-wedding brunch before the couples exchange vows at the Black Walnut Point Inn. The gay-owned Tilghman Island Inn will host a post-wedding reception, dinner and cake cutting for the couples.
Zuber and Staples, who have been together for six years and had registered to get married in D.C., will tie the knot on Jan. 1. They are the second same-sex couple to obtain a marriage license in Talbot County after clerks began issuing them to gays and lesbians on Dec. 6.
“We knew we were coming out here,” Zuber said. “We wanted to wait until Maryland did it and then wanted to be the first ones to get married here.”
Zuber said two lesbian couples are scheduled to get married at the inn in March. He and Staples have received additional inquiries from across the country.
“The whole entire island community is behind this,” Staples said. “They’re not against us. No one is saying ‘No, you can’t come down here.’ or ‘No, we’re not going to participate in same-sex [marriage.]’ The entire island is like, ‘Oh great, when is this going to happen? What can we do to help?’”
Attorney General Doug Gansler wrote on Nov. 29 that same-sex couples could begin to legally marry in Maryland on Jan. 1 – several are planning to tie the knot just after midnight on New Year’s Day. These include a group of same-sex couples in Cumberland and Ellicott City residents Dale Knight and Jeff Arney who discussed their wedding plans with the Blade last week.
“We try to create a gay-friendly place on Tilghman Island,” David McCallum, owner of the Tilghman Island Inn, said. “We all cooperate on the island to create an atmosphere and to give people choices. It’s certainly something I think has been a long-time coming and I think it’s pretty exciting that Maryland actually affirmed this in referendum. I expected eventually that it was going to have to be a Supreme Court ruling, but it’s sort of nice to know that the world has changed this much.”
An Annapolis tour company earlier this month announced it will no longer take part in weddings because of the same-sex wedding law, but Staples said Tilghman Island residents and businesses continue to welcome nuptials for gays and lesbians in Maryland.
“When we got wind of that, the entire island was like wow, that’s really interesting,” he said. “Why go where you’re tolerated. Come here where you’re celebrated.”
District of Columbia
Judge rescinds stay-away order in Capital Pride anti-stalking case
Evidence hearing to determine if order should be reinstated against Darren Pasha
A D.C. Superior Court judge on April 17 rescinded an anti-stalking order he approved in February at the request of Capital Pride Alliance against local LGBTQ activist Darren Pasha.
In a ruling at a court status hearing, Judge Robert D. Okum agreed with defendant Darren Pasha’s stated concern that the initial order was too broad and did not specify who specifically he must stay at least 100 feet away from, as called for in the order.
Okum ruled on April 17 that the initial order, which he noted was oral rather than written, would be suspended until an evidentiary hearing takes place in which Capital Pride will need to present evidence justifying the need for such an order.
“I’m fine with scheduling a hearing at which the plaintiff can present evidence, and the defendant can present evidence,” Okum said. “But I’m not fine with just continuing this oral TRO [Temporary Restraining Order] that Mr. Pasha really doesn’t even have notice of. That seems unfair,” he said.
After asking both Pasha and Capital Pride Alliance Attorney Nick Harrison when they would be available for the evidence hearing, Okum set the date for April 27 at 11 a.m. in Superior Court.
The case began when Capital Pride Alliance, the D.C.-based LGBTQ group that organizes the city’s annual Pride events, filed a Civil Complaint on Oct. 27, 2025, against Pasha, accusing him of engaging in a year-long effort to harass, intimidate, and stalk Capital Pride’s staff, board members, and volunteers.
The complaint was accompanied by a separate motion seeking a restraining order, preliminary injunction, and anti-stalking order prohibiting Pasha from “any further contact, harassment, intimidation, or interference with the Plaintiff, its staff, board members, volunteers, and affiliates.”
In his initial ruling in February, Okum issued an order requiring Pasha to stay at least 100 feet away from Capital Pride staff, board members, and volunteers until the April 17 status hearing. He reduced the stay-away distance from the 200 yards requested by Capital Pride.
Pasha, who has so far represented himself in court without an attorney, has argued in multiple court filings and motions that the Capital Pride stalking allegations are untrue. In his initial 16-page response to the complaint, Pasha said it appears to be a form of retaliation against him for a dispute he has had with Capital Pride and its former board president, Ashley Smith, who has since resigned from the board.
“It is evident that the document is replete with false, misleading, and unsubstantiated assertions,” Pasha’s court response states.
At the April 17 hearing, Okum also ruled that, as standard procedure for civil complaints such as this one, he has ordered both parties to enter into court-supervised mediation to attempt to reach a settlement rather than go to trial.
In an earlier ruling Okum denied Pasha’s request for a jury trial, stating that civil cases such as this must undergo a trial with the judge determining the verdict under existing civil court statutes.
The April 17 court hearing was held in a courtroom at the courthouse, but as allowed under current court rules, Capital Pride attorney Harrison and Capital Pride official June Crenshaw participated virtually through a video connection. Pasha attended the hearing in the courtroom.
“This matter is proceeding through the court in the normal course,” Capital Pride released in a statement. “We look forward to presenting the relevant evidence at the scheduled hearing. Capital Pride Alliance remains committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for our staff, volunteers, and community, and to addressing concerns through appropriate channels.”
“This is clearly a case of retaliation,” Pasha told the Blade after the hearing. “Today the judge removed the stay-away order and asked Capital Pride Alliance to present enough evidence and examples to see if a stay-away order should be granted,” he said. “Because Pride is coming up in June, we need to see where this is going.”
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.
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