Local
Comings & Goings
Mason Davis joins Gill; Denny Lyon to Bastille
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].
Masen Davis
Congratulations to Masen Davis who is joining the Gill Foundation as Senior Director of Special Projects. In making the announcement, president & CEO Courtney Cuff said, “We are excited to welcome Masen as a senior member of our team. He brings incredible knowledge and experience to the table. From ushering in sweeping changes to California’s non-discrimination law to increasing healthcare access for transgender people across the country, Masen’s leadership and proven track record are a critical addition to the foundation at this pivotal juncture.”
In accepting the position, Davis said, “After focusing on international equality for transgender people in recent years, I’m ready to dive back into the work that’s needed to protect and secure equal treatment here at home. The Gill Foundation team is smart, strategic and relentless in pursuit of equality. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Davis has more than 20 years of advocacy and nonprofit leadership experience. He most recently served as co-director of Global Action for Trans Equality (2015-16) and executive director of Transgender Law Center (2007-2015). Under his leadership, Transgender Law Center became the nation’s largest transgender advocacy organization. Davis’s work was critical to the elimination of discriminatory insurance exclusions in California, creating a pathway for transgender Americans to access transition-related care. He was also an integral part of the coalition that helped pass California’s School Success and Opportunity Act (AB 1266), ensuring transgender students have access to facilities and activities that match their gender identity.
Davis will oversee several key program areas. He will manage a grant portfolio focused on advancing equal treatment and opportunity for transgender people and assist in efforts to increase and diversify funding for the movement. Davis earned his bachelor’s from Northwestern University, a master’s from UCLA, and completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Congratulations also to Wallace (Denny) Lyon who has joined Bastille Restaurant in Alexandria as its new general manager. Bastille’s chef/owners are Christophe and Michelle Poteaux.
Christophe said, “We’ve known Denny for many, many years, have first-hand knowledge of his professionalism and dedication. His success at Nellie’s, Bobby Van’s and the PassionFood Group convinced us that he would be a great team leader for Bastille Brasserie and Bar.”
Lyon brings a wealth of restaurant industry experience to Bastille, formerly serving as manager of D.C.’s Ten Penh and general manager of Ceiba, Passionfish, and Teatro Goldoni. The LGBT community most likely knows him best as director of operations at Nellie’s Sports Bar.
Lyon’s passion for the industry crosses over to his personal life where he enjoys hosting dinner parties and cooking. On an unrelated note, he’s an avid collector of Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers and owns 55 pairs. Perfect for a man on his feet. He earned his B.B.A with honors at University of Michigan.
Bastille is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. serving brunch, lunch, dinner and all-day dining with café and bar menu offered.
Denny Lyon
Congratulations also to Vincent Ryan who has been named by Trinidad Navarro, Insurance Commissioner-elect of Delaware as senior adviser to the commissioner. Navarro said, “Vince is a trusted adviser and was instrumental in the campaign. I’m excited to bring him on board. His political skills, ability to assist in navigating complex government and legislative channels, and communicate with various stakeholders will make him an asset to the department and our team.”
Ryan was the campaign manager for Navarro for Insurance Commissioner. He previously worked in a local government relations practice helping to present matters before the Delaware Legislature. Active in politics since 2008, he has also assisted other officeholders and campaigns on various levels. Many know Ryan from his activism on LGBT issues in Delaware and from his work for Hillary Clinton’s campaign in Delaware and Philadelphia. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware. The commissioner-elect and his administration took office this week.
Vincent Ryan
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.
District of Columbia
Whitman-Walker Health to present ‘Pro Bono Excellence’ award to law firm
Health center set to celebrate 40th anniversary of legal services program
Whitman-Walker Health, the D.C.-based community healthcare center that specializes in HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ-related health services, announced it will present its annual Dale Edwin Sanders Award for Pro Bono Excellence to the international law firm McDermott Will & Schulte at a May 6 ceremony.
“This year’s award is especially significant as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of Whitman-Walker Health’s Legal Services Program, marking it as the nation’s longest running medical-legal partnership,” a statement released by Whitman-Walker says.
“As a national leader in public health, Whitman-Walker celebrates our partnership with McDermott to strengthen the health center and to enable Whitman-Walker to reach more medical and legal clients,” the statement adds.
“McDermott’s firm-wide commitment to Whitman-Walker’s medical-legal partnership demonstrates a shared vision to serve those most in need,” Amy Nelson, Whitman-Walker’s director of Legal Services, says in the statement. “Our work protects individuals and families who face discrimination and hostility as they navigate increasingly complex administrative systems,” Nelson said.
“Pro bono legal services – like that of McDermott Will & Schulte – find solutions for people who have no place else to turn in the face of financial and health threats,” she added.
“Our partnership with Whitman-Walker Health is a treasured commitment to serving our neighbors and communities,” Steven Schnelle, one of the law firm’s partners said in the statement. “We are deeply moved by Whitman-Walker’s unwavering dedication to inclusion, respect, and equitable access to health care and social services,” he said.
The statement notes that the award for Pro Bono Excellence honors the legacy of the late gay attorney Dale Edwin Sanders. It says Sanders’s pro bono legal work for Whitman-Walker clients “shaped HIV/AIDS law for more than four decades by securing key victories on behalf of individuals whose employment and patient rights were violated.”
It says the Whitman-Walker Legal Services program began during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s at a time when people with AIDS faced widespread discrimination and often needed legal assistance. According to the statement, the program evolved over the years and expanded to advocate for transgender people and immigrants.
Whitman-Walker spokesperson Lisa Amore said the presentation of the Dale Edwin Sanders Pro Bono Excellency Award will be held at the May 6 fundraising benefit for Whitman-Walker’s Legal Services Program. She said the event will take place at the offices of the DC law firm Baker McKenzie and ticket availability can be accessed here: https://www.whitman-walker.org/gtem-2026/
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Comings & Goings
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