Local
FreeState Legal seeks recognition of same-sex parents
Trans man denied visitation with child
The Court of Appeals is expected to decide whether to hear the case of Conover v. Conover in the next two months.
In a case that impacts thousands of children in Maryland born into families headed by same-sex couples, Baltimore-based FreeState Legal has asked Maryland’s Court of Appeals to review a decision by lower courts denying legal parentage to a person who raised a child from birth with their same-sex spouse. In the case of Conover v. Conover, FreeState Legal represents Michael Conover, a transgender man. Before Conover’s gender transition, he and his female partner had a child by artificial insemination of his partner. They married after marriage equality was legally recognized for same-sex couples, but the lower courts have refused to recognize Conover’s parentage of their child. As a result, Conover has been unable to see his child for more than two years.
“This heartbreaking case is about whether Maryland courts will give equal protection to the parent-child relationships of children born to same-sex couples, and whether marriages between same-sex couples are truly equal under Maryland law,” said FreeState Legal’s deputy director and managing attorney, Jer Welter, who represents Michael Conover, in a statement. “For marriage equality to have real meaning, the families formed by same-sex married couples must have the same legal protection as the families formed by opposite-sex couples.”
Before his gender transition, Michael Conover was in a committed same-sex relationship for nearly a decade with Brittany Eckel. In 2009, before marriage equality for same-sex couples was recognized in Maryland, Conover and Eckel decided to have a child together by artificial insemination. They chose an anonymous sperm donor on the basis of physical resemblance to Conover, and when Eckel gave birth to their son Jaxon, the child was given Conover’s last name. A few months later, Conover and Eckel married in nearby Washington D.C., where marriage between same-sex couples had become legally recognized.
They parented Jaxon together for the first two years of his life, but later broke up. In their divorce case, Conover asked the court for visitation with their son, but Eckel claimed that they had no children together. The trial court ruled that Conover is a legal stranger to Jaxon because he lacks a biological or adoptive relationship to the child. In August, Maryland’s intermediate appeals court, the Court of Special Appeals, upheld the trial court’s decision.
“Not being able to be with my son, to lead him, and watch him grow is a pain that I wish no one else would have to experience,” said Conover. “Little kids don’t understand genetics; they understand a parent’s nurturing love. My love for my child is never going to go away.”
“The effect of the lower courts’ ruling here is to deny a child a relationship with one of the only two parents he has ever known,” said Welter. “We hope that the court will hear this case and recognize that marriage equality has changed the landscape in Maryland, and will give the Conovers’ legal marriage the same effect as the marriage of any other opposite-sex couple.”
The Court of Appeals is expected to decide whether to hear the case in the next two months.
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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