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Comings & Goings
Leeds to open new bar; Penchina to chair Victory board
The ‘Comings & Goings’ column chronicles important life changes of Blade readers.
Comings & Goings recognizes the achievements of members of the LGBT community and highlights job openings in organizations working to advance LGBT rights. Please continue to share information about yourself and let friends know they can contact us at [email protected].
Daniel Penchina
Congratulations to Daniel Penchina, recently elected as co-chair of the Victory Campaign Board. VCB is a national group of community leaders dedicated to electing more openly LGBT candidates to public office by promoting the work of the Victory Fund in their communities. Elected by their peers to serve two-year terms, VCB members recruit qualified openly LGBT candidates to run for office and review and endorse Victory Fund’s candidates to ensure that LGBT voices are represented in government. From large cities to small towns, red states to blue, VCB members are helping to raise awareness of Victory Fund’s work and its mission.
Daniel is an active member of the LGBT community and a principal at the Raben Group. He previously served as president of “Q” Street, the organization of LGBT lobbyists, and worked on the Hill for a number of members of Congress, including Jan Schakowsky, Christopher Murphy and Jerrold Nadler.
We are also celebrating with Jamie Leeds, chef extraordinaire and owner of Hank’s Oyster Bar. Her new bar, The Twisted Horn, will open in two weeks in the Petworth neighborhood of D.C. at 819 Upshur St., N.W. It will be managed by Megan Coyle of Hank’s. It is a craft cocktail bar with a menu highlighting seasonally driven cocktails made with local ingredients, house infusions and innovative combinations, including such unique drinks such as Scarlet Billows, Blackwell Rum, Camparno Anitca and more. The menu will include classic cocktails and craft beers such as Day of the Dead Hefeweizen or Atlas Rowdy Rye and wines available by the glass or bottle.
Guests are invited to partake of a Jamie Leeds-designed snack menu consisting of bar favorites such as assorted pickles from their neighbors Gordy’s Pickle Jar, as well as a selection of cheese and charcuterie, among other items. The candlelit interior design and décor is edgy and industrial, while maintaining a neighborhood feel. The bar has 30 stools, with an additional 10 seats at high-top tables. There are also plans to house an outdoor patio with approximately 40 seats. Information at twistedhorndc.com. Congrats also go to Hank’s Dupont manager, Jeff Strine, who has been promoted to director of HR and training for Jaime’s growing business.
Jamie Leeds (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Jeff Strine
Two good jobs are available at PFLAG National. PFLAG is the nation’s largest family and ally organization supporting the LGBT community. PFLAG has more than 400 chapters and 200,000 members.
Director of Development Amy Sauerwalt, a PFLAG parent with a teenager who is transgender, is looking to add managers of major gifts and corporate development to her team.
The Major Gifts Manager will have primary responsibility for planning, coordinating and implementing the major donor and planned giving programs to meet the organization’s major gifts fundraising goals and planned giving program objectives. They will also be responsible for coordination of other staff and board members to cultivate additional solicitation. The Corporate Development Manager will be responsible for soliciting, researching, cultivating and strengthening PFLAG’s corporate relationships resulting in gifts and grants to support PFLAG’s organizational and programmatic needs. To learn more, contact PFLAG at 202-467-8180.
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.
Gay D.C. police lieutenant arrested on child porn charges
Demonstrators disrupt OMB director hearing over PEPFAR
HIV/AIDS group NMAC is ‘destabilized’ and in financial crisis: sources
Madonna announces release date for new album
Senegalese court issues first conviction under new anti-LGBTQ law
An effort to increase the number of psychiatrists of color
Comings & Goings
Trump budget targets ‘gender extremism’
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