District of Columbia
Scooping heritage and Pride: Inside D.C.’s newest ice cream shop
Yala opened on July 20 in Georgetown, where its co-owners celebrate their queer identity through Mediterranean flavors.
Just in time for National Ice Cream Day, D.C. landed the country’s first-ever Greek ice cream shop—operated by two LGBTQ community leaders.
On July 20, Yala Greek Ice Cream (3143 N St., N.W.) opened its bright blue doors at N and Wisconsin Avenue in the heart of Georgetown, marking the first time a Greek ice cream shop has opened in the U.S.
Chrys Kefalas and Salah Czapary are the duo behind the project. Kefalas, a proud Greek and vice president of brand strategy at the National Association of Manufacturers, joined forces with Czapary, a former MPD officer and D.C.’s former Nightlife and Culture Officer of Palestinian-Hungarian descent. Together, they’ve infused every scoop with the flavors of their Mediterranean roots—and their shared queer identity.
The idea for Yala traces back more than 40 years, to a Greek island where Kefalas’ family spent summers.
“My business partner and our CEO, Chrys Kefalas—he’s Greek—and when he was young, he grew up going to an ice cream shop on a [Greek] island where his family is from,” said Czapary. “His family has always been a part of the food industry.”
During the pandemic, the two friends reconnected over a shared hobby: making homemade ice cream. What started as a quarantine distraction evolved into a business plan.
“It’s always been a running joke for me that when I retire, I would open an ice cream shop,” Czapary said. “When [Chrys] had the opportunity to bring these recipes from Greece to the U.S., he came to me and said, ‘Why don’t we do it now?’ It suddenly became very real.”
After months of taste-testing recipes at Mess Hall DC, the Yala Greek Ice Cream team began scouting locations, sourcing ingredients, and developing a brand that honored their roots.s.
The name “Yala” is a blend of influences: “It’s a play off the word in Greek for milk (γάλα), but it’s also spelled in a way that one would say ‘yalla,’ which in Arabic means ‘let’s go,’” said Czapary. “It’s a play off of our shared heritages.”
So what is Greek ice cream, exactly? Czapary says it’s somewhere between gelato and traditional American styles. “Gelato is too heavy. American ice cream is too sweet. This is just perfect,” he recalled an Italian chef saying after trying it.
Yala will offer 16 rotating flavors, combining local ingredients with imports from across the Mediterranean. Mix-ins like pistachios are sourced from EU countries, while milk comes from Maryland “A2” cows, which some say is easier to digest.
“There’s going to be classic hits like mint chocolate chip, vanilla, and chocolate,” he said. “But there’s also going to be flavors that we’re bringing from Greece—like Greek yogurt with tart cherry, and another with orange preserves.”
When asked for a favorite, Czapary was quick to answer: “I am a pistachio guy. I told Chrys, ‘I’m only going to do this if we can make the best pistachio.’ And I think it is the best.”
His close second? “Mornings with Thea,” a Greek yogurt flavor with orange preserve. “It’s not a flavor people gravitate to right away, but I think when people try it, they’re going to love it.”
But Yala is about more than just dessert.
“What we’re really hoping to bring—beyond just a really great product—is the feeling you get when you go to an ice cream shop in Greece,” Czapary said. “A homey feel of a family-owned place that really welcomes everyone.”
The values behind the shop—Φιλοξενία (Philoxenia, or welcoming all), Αγάπη (Love), and Κοινωνία (Community)—are painted across its walls. Czapary said these stem not only from their Mediterranean roots but also their identities as LGBTQ men.
“A lot of our team wears a shirt that says, ‘all flavors welcome,’” he said. “It’s a nod at how we feel: this is a space where everyone can come and enjoy great ice cream. But it’s also a tribute to Chrys’s grandfather— who was known to be someone who welcomed everyone, who enjoyed being a host, and providing the best product to people. We want that space to reflect that.”
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.
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.
District of Columbia
Whitman-Walker Health to present ‘Pro Bono Excellence’ award to law firm
Health center set to celebrate 40th anniversary of legal services program
Whitman-Walker Health, the D.C.-based community healthcare center that specializes in HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ-related health services, announced it will present its annual Dale Edwin Sanders Award for Pro Bono Excellence to the international law firm McDermott Will & Schulte at a May 6 ceremony.
“This year’s award is especially significant as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of Whitman-Walker Health’s Legal Services Program, marking it as the nation’s longest running medical-legal partnership,” a statement released by Whitman-Walker says.
“As a national leader in public health, Whitman-Walker celebrates our partnership with McDermott to strengthen the health center and to enable Whitman-Walker to reach more medical and legal clients,” the statement adds.
“McDermott’s firm-wide commitment to Whitman-Walker’s medical-legal partnership demonstrates a shared vision to serve those most in need,” Amy Nelson, Whitman-Walker’s director of Legal Services, says in the statement. “Our work protects individuals and families who face discrimination and hostility as they navigate increasingly complex administrative systems,” Nelson said.
“Pro bono legal services – like that of McDermott Will & Schulte – find solutions for people who have no place else to turn in the face of financial and health threats,” she added.
“Our partnership with Whitman-Walker Health is a treasured commitment to serving our neighbors and communities,” Steven Schnelle, one of the law firm’s partners said in the statement. “We are deeply moved by Whitman-Walker’s unwavering dedication to inclusion, respect, and equitable access to health care and social services,” he said.
The statement notes that the award for Pro Bono Excellence honors the legacy of the late gay attorney Dale Edwin Sanders. It says Sanders’s pro bono legal work for Whitman-Walker clients “shaped HIV/AIDS law for more than four decades by securing key victories on behalf of individuals whose employment and patient rights were violated.”
It says the Whitman-Walker Legal Services program began during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s at a time when people with AIDS faced widespread discrimination and often needed legal assistance. According to the statement, the program evolved over the years and expanded to advocate for transgender people and immigrants.
Whitman-Walker spokesperson Lisa Amore said the presentation of the Dale Edwin Sanders Pro Bono Excellency Award will be held at the May 6 fundraising benefit for Whitman-Walker’s Legal Services Program. She said the event will take place at the offices of the DC law firm Baker McKenzie and ticket availability can be accessed here: https://www.whitman-walker.org/gtem-2026/
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