Local
Comings & Goings
Zavos joins new firm, wins Hero Award
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].
Congratulations to Michele Zavos who joined Delaney MCKinney LLP as a partner. They are a family law firm representing clients in divorce, child custody and other matters in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Zavos said, “In addition to admiring the quality of their legal work for many years, I chose to move to Delaney McKinney because we share a commitment to finding legal solutions that work for all families, and to preserving the dignity of individuals as they make challenging life decisions”.
She brings 40 years of experience representing all kinds of families and individuals in the metropolitan D.C. community, on issues ranging from the birth or adoption of children and family formation, through a change to the structure of a family because of divorce or dissolution of adult relationships, to estate planning and the probate of an estate. She is well known in the community for being instrumental in advancing the legal interests of LGBT families and helping to represent individuals and families with artificial reproductive technology and surrogacy legal issues. She has been named a Top Estate Planning lawyer by Washingtonian Magazine, the Family Law Practitioner of the Year by the Montgomery County Bar Association in 2013, and a top lawyer by the Blade’s Best of Gay D.C. Zavos was elected to the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys in the spring of 2005 and to the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys in 2010. It was recently announced that she will receive Rainbow Families’ first Hero Award.
Congratulations also to Eugene Resnick who joined the press office of New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. Resnick has extensive communications and government experience in public engagement, media relations and writing. He said, “I am excited to contribute my skills and experience to Scott Stringer’s office.”
Resnick recently was Deputy Communications Director and LGBT Liaison with Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. He developed relationships with major New York City media outlets including journalists and producers across electronic, print, television, and radio. His experience includes organizing press conferences and managing the Brooklyn Borough Hall website and managing day-to-day social media across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Prior to that he worked as a communications and advocacy senior associate with Global Health Strategies, New York.
Resnick went to school in London and worked there for Local Dialogue as an account manager. He also spent time working for APCO Worldwide in London. He was an intern in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence.
Congratulations also to the new board of directors officers of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association. The LGBT CSA is a non-partisan, officially sanctioned organization in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Board includes: President Chris Cunningham, Legislative Assistant for Rep. Ben McAdams (Utah); Vice President Hector Colón, Legislative Assistant for Rep. Max Rose (N.Y.); Communications Director Austin Laufersweiler, Communications Director for Rep. Andy Levin (Mich.); Professional Development Director Matthew Ramirez, Outreach Adviser for Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Social Events Director Sarah Jackson, Policy Associate for Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Membership Director Lauren Hughes, Scheduler and Legislative Assistant for Rep. Sanford Bishop (Ga.); At-Large Director Howard Ou, Policy Adviser for Rep. Gil Cisneros (Calif.); and At-Large Director Catherine Jucha, Staff Assistant and Legislative Correspondent for Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (Calif.).
Cunningham said, “It’s a tremendous honor to lead the LGBT CSA Board of Directors following the election of the most diverse freshman class in the history of Congress. This year our board hopes to strengthen and expand its membership to all LGBTQ staffers, fellows, and interns on Capitol Hill with mindful inclusion of groups that are currently underrepresented.”
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
An effort to increase the number of psychiatrists of color
Comings & Goings
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