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Comings & Goings
Lazar re-elected to Democratic State Committee
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].
John E. Lazar
Congratulations to John E. Lazar for his reelection as Ward 2 Committeeman to the D.C. Democratic State Committee. Lazar’s full-time career is as a non-profit executive who has a demonstrated ability in planning and implementing programs that align employee development and productivity with organizational goals. He is currently director of development for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.
Prior to that John has worked for a wide variety of organizations, including Global Impact, The American Cancer Society and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office. He is also a pastor having worked for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. He attended the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception and earned his bachelor’s from Saint John’s University and his master’s from Brooklyn College.
Congratulations also to Michael Rogers and his business partner John Byrne, owners of RawStory Media. They recently announced the acquisition of two new websites — AlterNet.org, a pioneer in progressive online journalism, and The New Civil Rights Movement a website focused on politics, civil liberties and the LGBT community.
Rogers spent 15 years as a fundraiser for LGBT organizations, including Harvey Milk High School, the National LGBTQ Task Force and Greenpeace. In 2004, he started a news website focused on the exposure of anti-gay politicians living in the closet. His work was featured in the documentary “Outrage.” In 2008, he founded Netroots Connect. Byrne’s experience includes founding a newspaper at Oberlin College and then doing a stint as an intern at the Boston Globe. He launched RawStory in 2004. Byrne founded Prevention 305, an organization promoting the use of HIV prevention drugs that assists clients in Miami-Dade with a focus on at-risk youth of color and transgender women.
Michael Rogers and John Byrne (Photo of Rogers by Pooja Mehta; photo of Byrne by Ricardo Salazar)
Congratulations also to Lamont Akins, named interim director of the D.C. Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs. Akins joined the Bowser administration in January 2015. He manages and provides guidance to the 10 constituent engagement offices reporting to him helping them to implement the Mayor’s Fresh Start vision for constituent engagement and outreach in all eight Wards of the District.
Prior to joining the Bowser administration, he served as director of constituent service for Council member Anita Bonds. He has also served as a program manager in the D.C. Department of Employment Services. Before joining D.C. government he worked in Housing and Community Development for AARP, Fairfax County and the Dallas Housing Authority.
Akins has served two terms as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for ANC 4D01 in the Brightwood Park neighborhood. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and has a master’s degree in community development from Delta State University.
Lamont Atkins
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’
Minimal version of ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ heading to Dupont Underground
