Cop/Reality Star Put On Leave Amid Gay Porn Allegations
Filed by: Waymon Hudson
July 23, 2008 2:00 PM
First it was James from Big Brother 9 with a gay porn past, now it seems like another reality TV star is in some hot water over adult films. 
Michael Verdugo, an out gay cop from Hollywood, FL and a contestant on HGTV's Design Star, has started the blogs buzzing with a possible porn past.
And he might lose his job as a police officer because of it.
According to South Florida's NBC6, Verdugo has been put on administrative leave with pay when authorities discovered he might have played a starring role in a 1996 porn film. The film, a gay bondage porn, was filmed 5 years before he became a cop. You can see some pictures and a clip from the porn video here (warning, very NSFW).
From the NBC6 report:
'He's a great cop with a distinguished record of serving this community for many years,' said Al Milian, Verdugo's attorney. Milian would not deny or confirm Verdugo's possible involvement in the film.
'I think every police officer during their career are subject to investigations. The overwhelming number of allegations are always found to be unfounded,' Milian said.
Milian said that ever since Verdugo's sexual orientation was revealed in 2004, he has dealt with discrimination and harassment.
Okay. Am I the only one outraged by this? So this guy (from all accounts an excellent cop) goes on a reality TV show, some bloggers dig up a porn that might have him in it, and he gets put on leave from his job? Since when is being in a dirty video a reason to lose your job?
My gut tells me this may be more about the gay issue than the porn issue. I mean, we've all seen firefighters and cops pose for scantily-clad calendars. Yet this out cop might have done a porn over 12 years ago and should be put on leave?
Michael Verdugo has a great record as a cop. Whether he was in a video years ago has no bearing on that whatsoever. He does his job, is out and proud, and did a reality show on basic cable. Let him go back to his job in peace and continue to serve the community honorably. This leave is nothing but an exercise in gay-based harassment from his workplace. Enough is enough.
I'll be sure to keep you updated as more info becomes available...
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12 Comments
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No surprises here, Waymon. After Susan Stanton, it's pretty clear to everyone how LGBT's working in government are treated in Florida. I fully expect this man to be run out of his job on rail like Stanton was. His actual work record as a police officer will have no impact just as in Stanton's case because the bigotry and homophobia of his superiors will carry the day as it in Stanton's case.
The best favor this man could do himself would be to move the hell out of there as quickly as possible and go work for a police department in a different area of the country, the kind of that places being good at one's job above being straight. The ingrained anti-Queer hate is just too great in that part of the country for any sane LGBT person to take a job with government there.
Rebecca Juro | July 23, 2008 2:34 PM
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Agreed that he shouldn't have to be ashamed of past sexual escapades.
But I will point out that it was a hardcore BDSM video Even the NSFW link you provided says, "McGurk is the pre-eminent king of really hardcore bondage videos. Seriously, his videos are NO joke." It's the Gay Porn Blog. I'll take their word for it.
Plus, the police usually screen for something like that and it would disqualify them from serving as a cop. If he didn't disclose it, then he'd be eligible for termination sadly.
Best thing possible? They put him on admin duty for a few months when he gets back and then put him back out on the beat.
Bil Browning | July 23, 2008 3:21 PM
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And I tend to agree with Becky- it is just an example of Florida's ingrained discriminatory practices. Even if it is him the video, I fail to see what bearing doing a porn over a decade ago (and long before he became a cop) has to do with his ability to do his job.
And why am I not surprised that Bil went right to the pictures. :) But seriously, even if it was hardcore bondage porn, who cares? It just means he can tie up suspects better...
Waymon Hudson | July 23, 2008 3:31 PM
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But seriously, even if it was hardcore bondage porn, who cares? It just means he can tie up suspects better...
LOL - glad to have you back, Waymon! I've been watching this story for awhile now, and I have my doubts that it really is him in the video. (Like Bil, I went right for the pics! :) ) But unless a) it truly was him, and b) he lied to the department about it, then he should be reinstated.
marc | July 23, 2008 4:25 PM
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I agree, Marc. The more I look at the pictures (and I have looked at them a lot... Seriously, A LOT...), the less I think it is Verdugo. Even if it is, however, I still don't see the big deal. Is there really a "no porn" rule for cops? I don't get why it would preclude someone from being a police officer...
And it is great to be back. :)
Waymon Hudson | July 23, 2008 4:53 PM
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HAWT! Leave it to you, Waymon, to get us a dirty scoop!
Serena Freewomyn | July 23, 2008 11:35 PM
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I vow to research this story VERY thoroughly... I might have to watch the video a few more times to see if it is really him, Serena!
Waymon Hudson | July 23, 2008 11:39 PM
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Waymon, how did you meet this officer? Were you driving while talking on the cell phone? Again? From my "cursory" view of the pictures you have thoughtfully provided I think the proof is in the tatoo. :)
Robert Ganshorn | July 24, 2008 2:37 AM
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Sexual frivolity, while less than appealing as a character trait, is hardly grounds for dismissal from a job.
One should be judge by job performance and nothing else.
Lucrece | July 24, 2008 6:33 AM
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I shouldn't matter if it is him or not as long as he was not engaged in an illegal activity then he should not be placed on leave.
Rob Barton | July 24, 2008 12:54 PM
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Wow, did anyone else get that warning from google that gaypornblog.com is a harmful site?
Yeah, I followed the link. But I didn't download anything from that site, I swear!
Alex Blaze | July 25, 2008 2:35 AM
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I didn't get a warning, Alex. My computer just said, "Really, Waymon? Again?" :)
But in all seriousness, I think this whole bruhaha is ridiculous. I'm not sure what bearing doing porn has on someone's ability to do a job.
Waymon Hudson | July 25, 2008 9:36 AM
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