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Comings & Goings
Brett Ries, lawyer and drag artist, fights for First Amendment
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].
The Comings & Goings column also invites LGBTQ+ college students to share their successes with us. If you have been elected to a student government position, gotten an exciting internship, or are graduating and beginning your career with a great job, let us know so we can share your success.
Congratulations to Brett Ries honored by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, winning their Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition for his soon-to-be-published article, “Don’t Be a Drag: How Drag Bans Can Violate the First Amendment.”
Ries said, “I am honored to be the winner of this competition, and to have increasing visibility for queer people in the political and legal fields.”
Washington, D.C. attracts interesting people and one of them is this South Dakota native. He is blessed with good looks, talent, and brains, and has committed to using all those attributes to benefit the LGBTQ community. Ries is a drag artist and graduate of Duke Law School. He is a politician and writer.
He first spent time in D.C. as an intern with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), where he assisted in researching and drafting of a bipartisan resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. He spent time in D.C. as a summer intern with Williams and Connelly, LLC, one of the nation’s top law firms. He will now join the firm fulltime.
I met Ries recently and talked with him about his career and hopes for the future; his upcoming work in the law and his hopes to continue working as a drag performer. He told me “As a drag artist, the recent attacks on drag hit especially close to home. Drag is educational, entertaining, and expressive. It is not criminal, dangerous, or immoral.” He added, “I want to be part of the fight we must keep fighting, to protect our community. My hope is my research and recent TEDx talk can contribute to that fight.” I urge everyone to take a few moments to listen to his Tedx talk.
Highlights of his young life include: running a grassroots campaign in 2018 for the South Dakota State Legislature while still a full-time college student; and leading an executive team of youth, ages 18-24, teaching them how to canvass. Based on those accomplishments he was featured in a CNN article, radio interviews, and gave motivational talks in South Dakota high schools. After starting law school, he worked with OutLaw, as director of advocacy. He is a published author and his publications include, “Not Up For Deliberation: Expanding the Peña-Rodriguez Protection To Cover Jury Bias Against LGBTQ+ Individuals;” and “Looking Backward to Move Forward: Ending the ‘History and Tradition’ of Gun Violence Against the LGBTQ+ Community.”
He also worked as a legal intern in the office of the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York, and is a trained theatrical performer. He was raised on a farm and is a first-generation college student. During the pandemic he organized a local LGBTQ march in his hometown, and worked with the mayor on LGBTQ issues. He has appeared on the HBO show, “We’re Here.”
Ries earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice & Political Science, and a minor in Theatre from the University of South Dakota, graduating summa cum laude. His thesis was, “The Relationship Between LGBTQ+ Representation on the Political and Theatrical Stages.” He earned his Juris Doctor from the Duke University School of Law.
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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