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Comings & Goings
Martin and Jeff group lands at Compass Real Estate
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].
From left, Jeffrey Brier and Martin Toews (Photos courtesy of the subjects)
Congratulations to Jeffrey Brier and Martin Toews of the Martin and Jeff group on joining Compass Real Estate. They said “Compass is a brokerage whose mission is similar to ours. They pair the industry’s top technology with unsurpassed service to make the process of buying and selling a home smart and seamless.” Joining them at Compass will be the third member of their team, Olivia Kibler.
Brier moved to D.C. in 1982 and Toews has lived in D.C. since 1986. In 1995 they formed their real estate partnership and “The Martin and Jeff Group” was born. They were one of the pioneers in the now very common Real Estate team concept. They believed bringing multiple agents together in a group with varied skills and talents makes for a better approach to helping clients achieve their goals. Together they have received many awards are are rated in the top 3 percent of real estate agents in Washington and listed in Washingtonian as top real estate agents 2014-2017.
Toews is a graduate of Washburn University in Kansas (undergrad and MBA) and Brier graduated from the University of Connecticut.
Congratulations also to Anne Friedman the new National Director of Gay For Good (G4G). She is the first paid staffer for this organization celebrating its 10th year. G4G was founded in Los Angeles. Over the past 10 years organizers have developed chapters across the nation and have made a positive impact on the greater community by having members of the LGBTQ+ community volunteer their time to social and environmental organizations.
Each volunteer service project their volunteers participate in fosters stronger relationships and promotes goodwill. Through Gay For Good’s grassroots efforts, parks have been cleaned, homeless people have been fed, schools have been restored and more. Friedman said, “When we show up, the narrative about the LGBTQ+ community is changed. Gay for Good volunteers have logged thousands of hours with our 14 chapters throughout the USA and we are steadily growing to become leaders in making a social impact.”
Previously, she was marketing and communications coordinator with the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County. For many years she was a director and instructor with Music ’N’ Kids, in Chino Hills, Calif. She and her wife life in Los Angeles. She earned her bachelor’s in Communication Studies from California State University Long Beach.
Anne Friedman (Photo courtesy of Friedman)
Congratulations and thanks also to Peter Morgan who is now leading a team that formed the newest chapter of G4G in D.C. He was there in LA when the group was founded. He said “I’m excited to be a part of the team launching G4G in Washington, D.C. I hope G4G-DC brings that same sense to the LGBTQ community here as we volunteer monthly on service projects with non-LGBTQ organizations bridging the gap that may still exist between LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.”
Morgan currently owns Morgan Ink. Marketing, LLC, a firm providing marketing, public relations, and special event services. His clients include DC Shorts Film Festival, Capital Pride Alliance, and Oasis Marketing. Previously he was director of programming and promotions for Studio 4 Networks, Inc. in Los Angeles and general manager of SAVVY Management Public Relations in New York City.
Peter Morgan (Photo courtesy of Morgan)
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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Comings & Goings
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