Local
Japer Bowles named director of D.C. Mayor’s LGBTQ Affairs Office
Longtime activist to replace Sheila Alexander Reid
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has named longtime LGBTQ community activist Japer Bowles as the new director of the Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs, according to an announcement released by the mayor’s office on Monday.
Bowles will replace Sheila Alexander Reid, another longtime LGBTQ community advocate who served as director of the Mayor’s LGBTQ Affairs Office under Bowser from 2015 until July of this year.
Alexander Reid stepped down from her D.C. government job to become senior vice president of a Los Angeles-based tech startup company called BiasSync, which provides workplace bias and diversity training to private sector companies across the country, including in the D.C. area.
The statement announcing Bowles’ appointment as director of the Mayor’s LGBTQ Affairs Office says Bowles recently led a coalition of more than 30 local LGBTQ businesses and nonprofit organizations as well as elected officials “to develop, priorities and strategize investments and programs supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.”
The announcement says Bowles previously served as legislative manager at Stateside Associates, an Arlington, Va.,-based company where “he led a team that analyzed, monitored and reported the political actions of state legislatures and executive leaders on over 15,000 legislative and regulatory matters for corporations, trade associations and the military.”
Bowles has most recently served as a grassroots organizer for SMYAL, the D.C. based LGBTQ youth advocacy and services organization. He has also served for two terms as an elected D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Adams Morgan.
Until this week, Bowles has also served as vice president for legislative affairs for the Capital Stonewall Democrats, D.C.’s largest local LGBTQ political group. He said he would be stepping down from that position Tuesday night at the group’s monthly virtual meeting.
Among the duties of the Mayor’s LGBTQ Affairs Office has been to lead the office’s staff in providing LGBTQ-related diversity or competency training for D.C. government employees at all city agencies.
The office’ website says other activities include connecting LGBTQ residents with city services they may need, advocating on behalf of programs and policies that benefit the lives of LGBTQ residents, providing grants to community-based organizations that serve the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ homeless youth, and to host events that “enrich, promote and bring together” the LGBTQ community in D.C.
One of the events that the office organizes is the upcoming annual 17th Street High Heel Race scheduled for Oct. 26. The event has attracted several thousand spectators to view a race among drag queens in celebration of Halloween. It was cancelled last year due to the COVID pandemic.
Bowles’ appointment does not require confirmation by the D.C. Council.
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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