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Comings & Goings
Richmond at EPA; Grant to mayor’s LGBTQ advisory group
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].
Jonah Richmond (Photo courtesy of Jonah Richmond)
Congratulations to Jonah Richmond, who is starting as a Conflict Resolution Specialist in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of General Counsel. Richmond most recently worked in EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, implementing several provisions of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.
Even though the Trump administration is threatening to drastically cut the staff and functions of the EPA it’s important that smart people like Richmond will still be there. He has kept his dispute resolution skills sharp as an EEO Mediator at the EPA.
Richmond is active in the LGBT community volunteering at the Whitman-Walker Health Name and Gender Change Clinic. He is married to David Olson, manager of the executive office and board engagement at the Shakespeare Theatre Company, and the managing director and chairman of the board of the Pointless Theatre Company. Richmond is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, and the Vermont Law School.
Congratulations also to Jaime M. Grant, Ph.D. who is among a number of new people named to the D.C. Mayor’s Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Affairs. Grant is a social justice researcher, advocate and educator with a 25-year track record of strategic research, advocacy and leadership training catalyzing key moments of change to advance racial, economic, gender and LGBTQ justice.
Grant founded the first global transgender research and advocacy project based on the success of her U.S. report, “Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey” working with transgender leaders of color all over the Global South. Since 2015, Grant has run an organization she founded, Trans*Formations LLC, working with clients to achieve sustainability in racial, economic, gender and LGBTQ justice work. Prior to that among the other incredible things she has done Jaime was the Founding Executive Director of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College directing the nation’s largest endowed social justice leadership center for which she secured a $23 million endowment. Many in D.C. know Grant from her years as director of the Policy Institute at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. She had previously served the organization as its director of development.
Grant has written and edited numerous books, including “Friendship as Social Justice Activism,” forthcoming, Niharika Banerjea, Debanuj DasGupta, Rohit DasGupta, and Jaime M. Grant, editors. Grant received her doctorate in Women’s Gender and Sexuality from the Union Institute and University, her master’s from Bucknell University and her bachelor’s from Wesleyan University.
The other newest members of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on LGBTQ Affairs are Saymendy Lloyd, Dwayne Bensing and Craig Langford. The committee works to advise the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs headed by Sheila Alexander Reid.
Jaime M. Grant (Photo courtesy of Jaime Grant)
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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