Local
Judge hears oral arguments in Va. marriage case
Olson tells court the state’s prohibition ‘cannot stand’
From left: Josh Duggar, Victoria Cobb of the Family Foundation of Virginia, Allison Howard of Concerned Women for America and EW Jackson take part in an anti-gay marriage rally outside the Norfolk ,Va., federal courthouse on Feb. 4. (Photo courtesy of the Family Foundation of Virginia)
A federal judge in Norfolk, Va., on Tuesday heard oral arguments in a lawsuit that challenges Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban.
Ted Olson and David Boies, who successfully argued against California’s Proposition 8 before the U.S. Supreme Court, told Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen of the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Virginia the commonwealth’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman violates the 14th Amendment. The two men represent Timothy Bostic and Tony London and Norfolk and Carol Schall and Mary Townley of Chesterfield who filed suit against the gay nuptials ban last year.
“As a proud Virginian, I am gratified to represent two loving couples in my home state who want nothing more than to have the state recognize their relationships,” said Olson. “Virginia’s prohibition on marriage for same-sex couples relegates gay and lesbian Virginians to second-class status. Laws excluding gay men and lesbians from marriage violate personal freedom, are an unnecessary government intrusion, and cause serious harm. That type of law cannot stand.”
Attorney General Mark Herring, who announced last month he would not defend the marriage amendment, is among those who attended the hearing.
“Today was a very significant day in the journey toward full equality under the law for all Virginians,” said Herring in a statement after he left the courthouse. “I am proud to say that the commonwealth of Virginia stood on the right side of the law and the right side of history today in opposing this discriminatory ban.”
Lawyers with the Alliance Defending Freedom who are representing Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk Michèle McQuigg defended the marriage amendment that Virginia voters approved by a 57-43 percent margin in 2006. Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk George Schaefer tapped attorneys with former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Virginia Beach law firm to represent him in the case.
The Family Foundation of Virginia and a group of professors from Regent University and other conservative academic institutions filed amicus briefs with the court in support of the marriage amendment.
“These citizens support marriage as defined by our constitution because they understand and recognize that our children deserve, whenever possible, to have both a mom and a dad,” said Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia. “They are also frustrated that they’ve been disenfranchised by an unconscionable and unprecedented decision by the attorney general of Virginia to take a position in court against the marriage amendment.”
Cobb joined former Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial candidate E.W. Jackson, Josh Duggar of the TLC series “19 Kids and Counting” who works for the Family Research Council, Allison Howard of Concerned Women for America and other same-sex marriage opponents who rallied outside the courthouse before the hearing. Roughly 60 LGBT rights advocates and other supporters of nuptials for gays and lesbians attended a candlelight vigil on Monday night.
“We want to be married for the happy times, but we need to be married for the sad times,” Schall told the Washington Blade on Monday during an interview with her and Townley and Bostic and London. “Virginia should not be in the business of standing in the way of people wanting to care for each other and take responsibility for each other.”
The hearing took place a day after the Republican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a bill that would allow any state lawmaker to defend a law if the governor and attorney general decline to do so.
The measure’s sponsors — state Dels. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County) and Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah County) — are among the 30 lawmakers who asked Gov. Terry McAuliffe to appoint a special counsel to defend the marriage amendment.
The governor, who supports marriage rights for same-sex couples, last week declined to do so.
A federal judge in Harrisonburg on Jan. 31 certified a second lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Virginia filed on behalf of two lesbian couples from the Shenandoah Valley who are seeking marriage rights in the commonwealth as a class action.
Allen said she would issue her ruling in the AFER case “soon.”
“We want to be married,” London told the Blade on Monday. “It’s important to us as Virginians that we get married in the state that we love.”
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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