Local
Norton vows to fight efforts to kill LGBT bill
Measure seeks to protect students at religious schools
D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (Washington Blade file photo by Jeff Surprenant)
D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) told representatives of LGBT groups on Monday that she will vigorously fight attempts by members of Congress to kill a city-approved bill aimed at protecting LGBT students from discrimination at D.C.-based religious schools.
She also told representatives of reproductive rights groups that she and her allies on Capitol Hill would strongly oppose attempts by Congress to kill a separate D.C. bill that would prohibit city employers from discriminating against employees based on reproductive rights choices, including a decision to have an abortion.
The LGBT-related bill, the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014, repeals a 1989 law passed by Congress known as the Armstrong Amendment. The amendment exempts religious educational institutions in the city from having to comply with the D.C. Human Rights Act’s provision banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Language in the Armstrong Amendment, which is part of the D.C. Human Rights Act, allows religious schools such as Catholic University to deny meeting space or privileges offered to other student clubs for any organization that engages in “promoting, encouraging, or condoning any homosexual act, lifestyle orientation, or belief.”
The D.C. Council approved the repeal legislation in the form of the Human Rights Amendment Act in December. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed it earlier this month.
An official with the City Council’s Office of the Secretary said on Tuesday that due to a backlog of bills passed by the Council in December, the Council wasn’t expected to send the bill to Congress to begin the required 30 legislative day review of the measure for at least another two weeks.
The official, who spoke on condition of not being identified, said the holdup was strictly administrative in nature and unrelated to the bill’s content.
Last week, a religious-oriented conservative group called Heritage Action released a statement calling on its members and supporters to urge their congressional representatives to support a disapproval resolution to kill the Human Rights Amendment Act. Under the city’s Home Rule Charter, a majority vote of both the House and Senate and the signature of the president of a “disapproval” resolution can kill any D.C.-passed bill. Most lawmakers expect President Obama would refuse to sign such a resolution.
For that reason, opponents of D.C. bills have resorted to blocking such bills through riders attached to the city’s annual budget bill, which Congress must pass.
“We have been preparing for anti-Democrats to use the Republican Congress to try to interfere with the local laws of the District of Columbia,” Norton said in a statement last week. “Just as my colleagues insist that the laws of their constituents be respected by Washington, you better bet that we will insist on that same American principle and will target members who dare to disrespect the people of the District of Columbia by trying to overturn our local laws.”
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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