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Comings & Goings
O’Neill to practice in Portland; Skinner heads to Rome
The ‘Comings & Goings’ column chronicles important life changes of Blade readers.
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
Daniel O’Neill
Congratulations to Dr. Daniel O’Neill, who will be practicing General Internal Medicine at the Neighborhood Health Center in Portland, Ore.
O’Neill is a primary care physician specializing in HIV and LGBT Health, who recently completed his residency training in internal medicine at both Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and the George Washington University Hospital, in D.C. After a month of intensive medical-Spanish immersion in Guatemala this summer, he will begin practice and will serve as the anchoring internal medicine physician for the new clinic site for Portland’s underserved populations.
“Although my life has taken an unanticipated detour for now, my long-term plan remains practicing HIV medicine in the D.C. metropolitan area,” he said. “My time as a volunteer at Whitman-Walker Health and the influence of my dear friend, Peter Fox, were instrumental in the decision to pursue HIV medicine and LGBT health.”
O’Neill attended the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences after working for the Institute of Medicine. While in medical school and residency he trained under Drs. Douglas Ward, Ray Martins, both in D.C., and William Owen of San Francisco, all notable HIV primary care physicians.
While in D.C., Dan helped to co-found the HIV Working Group of the DC Center and the FUK!T condom distribution campaign with Dr. Terry Gerace. He was both a 2011 Point Foundation Scholar and National Health Service Corps Scholar (NHSC).
He added, “After completing my NHSC service obligation, I may return to D.C. to continue work in one of the local community health centers or move into private practice.”
Congratulations are also due to long-time Washingtonian Bill Skinner who recently moved with his husband Murray Jolivette from their home in Brookland to Rome. Skinner has taken the position of chief of the governing bodies office at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations first established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is one of the three Rome-based agencies of the United Nations, with a special focus on eradicating poverty and food insecurity in remote rural areas around the world. Seventy-five percent of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihoods.
Skinner and his team are responsible for the operations of IFAD’s executive board and governing council, in close coordination with management. Most recently he ran his own D.C.-based translation and interpretation company following his graduation from Georgetown University’s school of interpretation and translation. For the past 14 years, Skinner worked at the International Monetary Fund, most recently as chief of the English Section.
Bill Skinner
Finally, congratulations are also due to Jay Vilar who recently founded Nourish, LLC (www.nourishingdc.com). Vilar grew up attempting a variety of diets informed with misguided nutritional information, fluctuating weight and a constant lack of sustained energy. As he began to immerse himself in the science behind nutrition and the human body, rather than abiding by contradictory media messages, his life forever changed. He then created a vision for his life, to help others heal their bodies with food. He studied to become a Nutritional Therapist Practitioner and created his company Nourish, LLC. Vilar said, “I work with my clients to identify which nutrients are missing in their body then develop customized nutritional plans specific to their health goals.”
Jay Vilar
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
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Senegalese court issues first conviction under new anti-LGBTQ law
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Comings & Goings
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