Local
Vorndran steps down from D.C. Police Complaints Board
Longtime official replaced by Earl Fowlkes
Longtime D.C. LGBTQ rights advocate Kurt Vorndran has stepped down from his position as a member of the D.C. Police Complaints Board after serving on the board for 15 years under four D.C. mayors.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, who was among the mayors who asked Vorndran to continue his service on the board when she took office in 2015, nominated fellow LGBTQ rights advocate Earl Fowlkes to replace Vorndran. The D.C. Council, which must approve the mayoral appointees of four of the board’s five members, confirmed Fowlkes’ nomination last month.
“For the first time in 15 years, I will not have the duty of attending the monthly meeting of the DC Police Complaints Board, from which I’m now retired and have been succeeded by the very able Earl Fowlkes,” Vordran said in a Facebook post.
The Police Complaints Board serves as an independent body charged with investigating citizen complaints about misconduct or abusive behavior by police officers.
LGBTQ rights advocates played a lead role in calling on the D.C. Council to create an earlier version of the board called the Civilian Complaints Review Board, which began its service in 1999. Local LGBTQ activists have said gay men and transgender women historically had been subjected to harassment by D.C. police in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. Transgender activists have reported instances of anti-trans harassment by D.C. police in recent years.
In 2004, the Council adopted revisions to create the current Police Complaints Board and its accompanying Office of Police Complaints, which has a staff of 40 specialists, including attorneys, that help the board investigate and adjudicate cases of citizen complaints against police officers.
The law that created the current board calls for the board to consist of five members with three-year terms of office. One of the members must be a member of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. The remaining four members must be civilian D.C. residents who cannot have any affiliation with the MPD.
In addition to Fowlkes, who is gay, the current board includes two other LGBTQ members, transgender activist Bobbi Strang and the board’s current chair, Paul Ashton, who’s gay.
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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