Police Activity

Florida-based police officer Michael Verdugo talks to The Advocate about being fired after a nearly 15-year-old gay bondage film in which he starred resurfaced.

By Advocate Contributors

MICHAEL VERDUGO X390 (COURTESY) | ADVOCATE.COM

When 22-year-old Michael Verdugo performed in a gay bondage flick called Rope Rituals in 1996, there was no XTube or Facebook. But when the out Hollywood, Fla., police officer became a contestant on HGTV’s Design Star in 2008, times had changed. Word spread quickly about Verdugo’s onetime X-rated role, and he was placed on administrative leave before ultimately being fired in January 2009 after eight years on the force. Verdugo challenged his termination, and an “an 80-year-old Republican” arbitrator recently upheld the police force’s decision, but he's planning a lawsuit. Now 35 and an interior designer, Verdugo spoke to The Advocate about “the fight of his life.”

Before news of the movie came out, you filed a successful antigay harassment claim against your HPD superior. Did that play a role in your firing?
The work environment changed after that; I made a complaint on a well-liked supervisor. From that day, my fate was sealed.

The HPD claims you were fired because you didn’t mention the movie on your job application. What’s your response?
I also forgot to put down on my application that I worked at a gym for three months. They found that out, and it was OK. If they found out I was in Hamlet and didn’t bring it up when hired, we wouldn’t be here right now.

So it’s simply about homophobia?
If it were a straight porn, I wouldn’t have been fired. The fact that it was bondage and gay freaked them out.

What’s the status of the suit?
I’m meeting with Lambda Legal, and I have the Democratic Party behind me in the state of Florida. We’re all getting together to file suit.

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Reader Comments

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Name: allan Smith
Date posted: 5/22/2010 5:44:06 PM
Hometown: Springfield, OR

Comment:
Laughingwater here: what a nice article to read about a handsome looking cop who I wouldn't bedroom cell (hehehe)...(-:
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Name: raven
Date posted: 3/13/2010 10:47:42 PM
Hometown: Provincetown, MA

Comment:
"Roland from Charlotte": You are correct in stating that this officer may have had other issues that show up on his record if one Googles his name. He needs to be forthcoming in the complete history of his employment with this Police Dept. We cannot just support him for being fired for the flick that he was in. We need to look at the whole picture. The flick being put up on the web was indeed a nasty thing to do(most likely by a co-worker) but if it was just the "straw that broke the camel's back" in his work history then, we all need to shut up.
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Name: REVEREND VINCE
Date posted: 3/12/2010 1:01:22 PM
Hometown: BRISTOL

Comment:
GOLAN: It is more about them, and not about you. I am amazed by how many "straight" men are so queasy around gay men, especially in showers or locker rooms. This all makes one wonder what their particular fears and desires are. I have come to the conclusion it is the straight men with those anxieties who are the problem, not the gay men.
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Name: Golan
Date posted: 3/12/2010 2:28:47 AM
Hometown: Amsterdam

Comment:
Wow I feel for this guy. I was a cop here in Holland and it is the same here I never had problems in the street. But my co workers daim they made life hell. If I would come in the shower it was empty in a sec I filed a complain but it didn't matter they thoughed beeing gay was having aids and wanted to have sex with all of them. So I guess all over the world it's like the same shit. I lost the court case in 1997 The judge ruled I was to openly gay. Believe me I'm not a flaming queen and I alway's get hit up with girls even now when I'm a flight attendent the girls leave the phone numbers the guy's just smile.
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Name: John Fugate
Date posted: 3/11/2010 10:56:21 PM
Hometown: Lakeland, Florida

Comment:
It is nice reading this article online here in march of 2010 but do you anywhere give credit to the South Florida Gay News for breaking this story nationally in their very first issue on January 25? I would just think as a news reporting agency you should. If you want to see the whole unabridged version of what happened and how at least you could have linked your readers back to issue one of www.southfloridagaynews.com. It sure seems to be the right thing to have done.
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Name: REVEREND VINCE
Date posted: 3/11/2010 8:03:28 PM
Hometown: BRISTOL

Comment:
This event occurred 14 years ago .. 1996. Verdugo should not have lost his job as a police officer over this. This matter also sends warning shots across the bow of anyone posting information on or using the web. I hope Verdugo wins this case. What he did at age 22 should not determine continuation of his employment. Eight years on the job, and then he is fired? Perhaps all this publicity will benefit his new pursuits. Now! Off to Google that sex vid! :)
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Name: Eric
Date posted: 3/11/2010 4:57:27 PM
Hometown: Seattle, WA

Comment:
I wouldn't even really call the flick porn, more like erotic art. It doesn't actually show sex. I hope he wins and shows those homophobes a thing or two. A movie role has NO bearing on his work with the department and they know that full well. This is a vendetta pure and simple and it's time they learn to stop.
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Name: Carlos
Date posted: 3/11/2010 4:03:43 PM
Hometown: Miami

Comment:
I wish him luck with his law suite...
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Name: Doug
Date posted: 3/11/2010 2:49:13 PM
Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD

Comment:
I would rather have him on my side, as a cop, than some super-straight, macho belcher with a small mind and huge ego. I wish him well and I hope I finds the employment where he is content.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: ArtNOLA
Date posted: 3/11/2010 2:25:51 PM
Hometown: New Orleans

Comment:
I would like to know what HGTV specifically asks about in regard to past jobs, acting, modeling etc. I have seen the entire video and the subject matter is not "main stream" (It's not even gay main stream), it really isn't hardcore, there is no penetration or oral at all, but he is tied up, humiliated and treated like a slave. I do know that another guy who is currently on HGTV has nude pics and some risque underwear modelling pics on the internet and he is still working on shows in production on HGTV. I think it may be more the subject matter than that it was gay porn. As far as the police dept. in a way, I can see how his role in that video can hurt his authority as a police office and perhaps put him in danger. I feel really bad for him because it was a one time thing (done before you could "GOOGLE" someone) and he did it under an assumed name so obviously someone recognized him and purposely outted this movie.

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