Retaliatory Strike or Fired with Cause: A Case Study of Gay Identity Disclosure and Law Enforcement

Abstract

A relatively small amount of HRD research has focused on issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The majority that does exist tends to focus on issues assumed to cut across the entire LGBT community. However, a need exists for research that identifies and articulates the varied experiences of each of these identity groups. One emerging area of HRD research is to look at the experiences of gay men working in masculinized industries, where dated stereotypes regarding masculinity and sexuality often position gay men as exceptions to assumed male privilege. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of one gay male former law enforcement officer and how (non)disclosure in the masculinized industry context of law enforcement influenced and constrained his work experiences. The subject for the case was Mike Verdugo, formerly of the Hollywood, Florida, Police Department. Findings highlight the plausibility that a gay law enforcement officer might choose to come out at work because he dreads the potential repercussions of being outed by someone else in an environment that often produces conflicting narratives regarding being gay. Implications for HRD are discussed across the domains of learning, support, assessment, and research. It is suggested that HRD develop strategies to combat stigma and stereotypes related to gay identity, while actively seeking alternatives to accepted training, career development, and organizational norms.

Keywords

Gay men law enforcement case study disclosure organizational culture

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Adams

T. E.

(2011). Narrating the closet: An autoethnography of same–sex attraction. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press.

Union

American Civil Liberties

. (2010). ACLU sues sheriff's department on behalf of corrections officer fired for being gay. ACLU website. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/lgbt–rights/aclu–sues–sheriffs–department–behalf–corrections–officer–fired–being–gay

Archbold

C. A.

, & Schulz

D. M.

(2012). Research on women in policing: A look at the past, present and future. Sociology Compass, 6(9), 694–706.

Atkinson

P. H.

, Barrow

, & Connors

(2003). Models of police probationer career progression: preconceptions of the psychological contract. Human Resource Development International, 6(1), 43–56.

Belkin

,& McNichol

(2002). and blue: Outcomes associated with the integration of open gay and lesbian personnel in the San Diego Police Department. Police Quarterly, 5(1),–95.

Ben–Ari

(1995). The discovery that an offspring is gay: Parents', gay men's, and lesbians’ perspectives. Journal of Homosexuality, 30, 89–112.

Bereki

(2010). Friendly fire: The illusion of justice. Costa Mesa, CA: Spartan Associates, Inc.

Bernstein

, & Swartwout

(2012). Gay officers in their midst: Heterosexual police employees’ anticipation of the consequences for coworkers who come out. Journal of Homosexuality, 59(8), 1145–1166.

Borkovec

T. D.

, Roemer

, & Kinyon

(1995). Disclosure and worry: Opposite sides of the emotional processing coin. In Pennebaker

J. W.

(Eds.) Emotion, disclosure, and health, (pp. 47–70). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

10.

Brown

(2007). From cult of masculinity to smart macho: Gender perspectives on police occupational culture. Sociology of Crime Law and Deviance, 8, 205–226.

11.

Burke

(1992). Cop culture and homosexuality. The Police Journal, 65, 30–39.

12.

Burke

(1994a). Homosexuality as deviance: The case of the gay police officer. British Journal of Criminology, 34 (2), 192–203.

13.

Burke

(1994b). Prejudice and discrimination: The case of the gay police officer. Police Journal, 67, 219.

14.

Burris

(2010). Gay ex–cop publishes book, police chief calls it ‘fiction’. Orange County Register. Retrieved from http://www.ocregister.com/news/book–243599–police–bereki.html

15.

Carlan

P. E.

, & McMullan

E. C.

(2009). A contemporary snapshot of policewomen attitudes. Women & Criminal Justice, 19(1), 60–79.

16.

Cavalier

E. S.

(2011). Men at sport: Gay men's experiences in the sport workplace. Journal of Homosexuality, 58 (5), 626–646.

17.

Chappell

A. T.

, & Lanza–Kaduce

(2010). Police academy socialization: Understanding the lessons learned in a paramilitary–bureaucratic organization. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 39(2), 187–214.

18.

Charles

M. W.

, & Arndt

L. M. R.

(2013). Gay– and lesbian–identified law enforcement officers: Intersection of career and sexual identity. The Counseling Psychologist, 41, 1153–1185.

19.

Cherney

(1999). Gay and lesbian issues in policing. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 11, 35–52.

20.

Collins

J. C.

(2013). Stress and safety for gay men at work within masculinized industries. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 25 (3), 245–268.

21.

Collins

J.C.

(2015). Characteristics of “masculinized” industries: Gay men as a provocative exception to male privilege and gendered rules. Human Resource Development Review, 14(4), 415–441. Doi: 10.1177/1534484314559930

22.

Collins

J. C.

, & Callahan

J. L.

(2012). Risky business: Gay identity disclosure in a masculinized industry. Human Resource Development International, 15 (4), 455–470.

23.

Colvin

(2009). perceptions among lesbian and gay police officers: Barriers and opportunities in the law enforcement work environment. Police Quarterly, 12(1),–101.

24.

Colvin

(2012). Gay and lesbian cops: Diversity and effective policing. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.

25.

CSR Wire. (2010). Press release: Police officer Michael Carney tells story of anti–gay discrimination within police force to Midweek Politics’ David Pakman. CSR Wire website. Retrieved from http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/29358–Police–Officer–Michael–Carney–Tells–Story–of–Anti–Gay–Discrimination–Within–Police–Force–to–Midweek–Politics–David–Pakman

26.

Cunliffe

A. L.

(2004). On becoming a critically reflexive practitioner. Journal of Management Education, 28(4), 407–426.

27.

Day

N. E.

, & Schoenrade

(1997). Staying in the closet versus coming out: Relationships between communication about sexual orientation and work attitudes. Personnel Psychology, 50, 147–63.

28.

Dehnart

(2010, January 26). Design Star's Mikey Verdugo suing police department for firing him over his gay porn + reality blurred. Retrieved from: http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/design_star/2010_Jan_26_verdugo_suing

29.

Derlega

V. J.

, & Grzelak

(1979). Appropriateness of self–disclosure. In Chelune

G. J.

(Ed.), Self–disclosure: Origins, patterns, and implications of openness in interpersonal relationships. (pp. 151–176). San Francisco: Jossey–Bass.

30.

Dey

(1993). Qualitative data analysis: A user–friendly guide for social scientists. New York, NY: Routledge.

31.

Doornbos

A. J.

, Simons

R. J.

, & Denessen

(2008). Relations between characteristics of workplace practices and types of informal work–related learning: A survey study among Dutch Police. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 19(2), 129–151.

32.

Drodge

E. N.

, & Murphy

S. A.

(2002). Interrogating emotions in police leadership. Human Resource Development Review, 1(4), 420–438.

33.

Dunn

(2010, September). Verdugo files suit to get his job back. Retrieved from: http://southfloridagaynews.com/Local/verdugo–files–suit–get–his–job–back.html

34.

Dwyer

A. E.

, & Ball

M. J.

(2009). Policing sexualities. In Broadhurst

R. G.

& Davies

S. E.

(Eds.), Policing in context: An introduction to police work in Australia (pp. 89–91). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

35.

Finlay

(2006). ‘Rigour','ethical integrity’ or ‘artistry'? Reflexively reviewing criteria for evaluating qualitative research. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(7), 319–326.

36.

Francis

(2007, October 18). Badge–ered: A gay Hollywood cop says he was abused by South Florida's most battered police department. Retrieved from: http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2007–10–18/news/badge–ered/

37.

Francis

(2010a). Firing by Hollywood PD was retaliation for harassment complaint. Retrieved from:http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2010/01/mike_verdugo_hollywood_pd_design_star.php

38.

Francis

(2010b). Mike Verdugo fired for gay porn role? Or complaining about harassment by Hollywood PD?. Retrieved from: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2010/08/mike_verdugo_gay_porn_hollywood_police.php

39.

Franke

, & Leary

M. R.

(1991). Disclosure of sexual orientation by lesbians and gay men: A comparison of private and public processes. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 10, 262–69.

40.

Franklin

C. A.

(2007). Male peer support and the police culture: understanding the resistance and opposition of women in policing. Women & Criminal Justice, 16(3), 1–25.

41.

Gedro

(2010a). Lesbian presentations and representations of leadership, and the implications for HRD. Journal of European Industrial Training, 34(6), 552–564.

42.

Gedro

(2010b). The lavender ceiling atop the global closet: Human resource development and lesbian expatriates. Human Resource Development Review, 9(4), 385–404.

43.

Gedro

(2013). Responding to ‘gay men and masculinity': Further considerations. Human Resource Development International, 16(1), 128–131.

44.

Gedro

J. A.

, Cervero

R. M.

, & Johnson–Bailey

(2004). How lesbians learn to negotiate the heterosexism of corporate America. Human Resource Development International, 7(2), 181–195.

45.

Giorgi

(1992). Description versus interpretation: Competing alternative strategies for qualitative research. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 23(2), 119–135.

46.

Gossett

J. L.

, & Williams

J. E.

(1998). Perceived discrimination among women in law enforcement. Women & Criminal Justice, 10(1), 53–73.

47.

Griffith

K. H.

, & Hebl

M. R.

(2002). The disclosure dilemma for gay men and lesbians: “Coming out” at work. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87, 1191–99.

48.

Gusmano

(2008). Coming out or not? How nonheterosexual people manage their sexual identity at work. Journal of Workplace Rights, 13, 473–496.

49.

Haarr

(1997). Patterns of interaction in a police patrol bureau: Race and gender barriers to integration. Justice Quarterly, 14, 53–85.

50.

Harrison

(2012). Women in law enforcement: Subverting sexual harassment with social bonds. Women & Criminal Justice, 22(3), 226–238.

51.

Hassell

K.D.

& Brandl

S.G.

(2009). Examination of the workplace experiences of police patrol officers: the role of race, sex, and sexual orientation. Police Quarterly, 12(4),–430.

52.

Hatch

M. J.

, & Schultz

(2002). The dynamics of organizational identity. Human Relations, 55(8), 989–1018.

53.

Herek

G. M.

(2004). Beyond homophobia: Thinking about sexual prejudice and stigma in the twenty–first century. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 1, 6–24.

54.

Hsieh

H. F.

, & Shannon

S. E.

(2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), 1277–1288.

55.

Huebner

D. M.

, Rebchook

G. M.

, & Kegeles

S. M.

(2004). Experiences of harassment, discrimination, and physical violence among young gay and bisexual men. American Journal of Public Health, 94(7), 1200–1203.

56.

Hunter–Johnson

Y. O.

, & Closson

R. B.

(2012). Learners’ educational orientation as a design tool for human resource development professionals in law enforcement: A Caribbean context. Human Resource Development International, 15(2), 193–208.

57.

Jones

, & Williams

M. L.

(2013). Twenty years on: Lesbian, gay and bisexual police officers’ experiences of workplace discrimination in England and Wales. Policing and Society, Online First. doi:

10.1080/10439463.2013.817998

58.

Kang

(2013). Audubon Park police officer claims he was fired for being gay. WHAS 11 website. Retrieved from http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Fired–Audurbon–officer–alleges–wrongful–termination–due–to–sexual–orientation–221380061.html

59.

Kecskemety, (2010a 11). Former police officer makes community plea. Retrieved from: http://floridaagenda.com/2010/08/11/former–police–officer–makes–community–plea/

60.

Kecskemety, (2010b 15). Verdugo supporters to rally for ENDA. Retrieved from: http://floridaagenda.com/2010/10/15/verdugo–supporters–to–rally–for–enda/

61.

Kent

(2010a, September). A gay cop fights back. Retrieved from: http://southfloridagaynews.com/Local/gay–cop–fights–back.html

62.

Kent

(2010b, September). Verdugo's struggle continues. Retrieved from: http://southfloridagaynews.com/Publisher–s–Editorial/verdugos–struggle–continues.html

63.

Kuehnle

, & Sullivan

(2003). Gay and lesbian victimization reporting factors in domestic violence and bias incidents. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 30(1), 85–96.

64.

Letellier

(1994). Gay and bisexual male domestic violence victimization: Challenges to feminist theory and responses to violence. Violence and Victims, 9(2), 95–106.

65.

Lyons

P. M.

, Anthony

C. M.

, Davis

K. M.

, Fernandez

, Torres

, & Marcus

(2005). Police judgments of culpability and homophobia. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice, 1(1), 1–14.

66.

Merriam

S.B.

(1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey–Bass.

67.

Merriam

S. B.

(2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

68.

Miles

M. B.

, & Huberman

M. A.

(1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd edition). London: Sage Publications.

69.

Miller

, Forest

& Jurik

(2003). In blue: Lesbian and gay police officers in a masculine occupation. Men and Masculinities, 5(4), –385.

70.

Myers

, Forest

& Miller

(2004). friendly and tough cops: Gay and lesbian police officers. Journal of Homosexuality, 47(1),–37.

71.

Pennebaker

J. W.

, & Francis

M. E.

(1996). Cognitive, emotional, and language processes in disclosure. Cognition and Emotion, 10, 601–26.

72.

Peräkylä

(2005). Analyzing talk and text. In. Denzin

N.K.

& Lincoln

Y.S.

(Eds.), Handbook of Qualitative Research, pp. 869–86. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

73.

Hilton

Perez

. (2008, July 18). Escandalo! Retrieved from: http://perezhilton.com/2008–07–18–escandalo–2

74.

Petronio

, Flores

L. A.

, & Hecht

M. L.

(1997). Locating the voice of logic: Disclosure discourse of sexual abuse. Western Journal of Communication, 61, 101–13.

75.

Ponterotto

J. G.

(2005). Qualitative research in counseling psychology: A primer on research paradigms and philosophy of science. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 126–136.

76.

Prokos

, & Padavic

(2002). ‘There oughtta be a law against bitches’: Masculinity lessons in police academy training. Gender, Work & Organization, 9(4), 439–459.

77.

Queer Channel. [QueerChannel]. (2012, January 14). Michael Verdugo Press Conference [Video file]. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6tCrEkNCaA

78.

Rabe–Hemp

(2008). Survival in an “all boys club”: Policewomen and their fight for acceptance. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 31(2), 251–270.

79.

Remmington

P. W.

(1983). Women in the police: Integration or separation?. Qualitative Sociology, 6(2), 118–135.

80.

Ring

(2012). Chicago cop fired over work as bar bouncer, ‘lube wrestler.’ The Advocate website. Retrieved from http://www.advocate.com/society/law/2012/11/20/chicago–cop–fired–over–work–bar–bouncer–and–lube–wrestler

81.

Rothaus

(2008a, July 16). Design Star's Mikey V reportedly starred in 1996 gay bondage film. Retrieved from: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/07/under–investiga.html

82.

Rothaus

(2008b, July 17). Design Star police officer put on leave. Retrieved from: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/07/design–star–pol.html

83.

Rothaus

(2010a, January 25). 15-minute role in gay porn film cost S. Florida cop his job. Retrieved from: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/crime/article24571573.html#storylink=cpy

84.

Rothaus

(2010b, August 11). Ex-Hollywood cop, fired over porn movie, battles to keep police certification. Retrieved from: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-08-11/news/fl–fired–hollywood–cop–verdugo–20100810_1_hollywood–department–two–years–rope–rituals–verdugo–case

85.

Rothaus

(2010c, March). Fired Hollywood police officer Mikey V, boyfriend and brother pose for NOH8 Campaign. Retrieved from: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2010/03/firedhollywood–police–officer–mikey–v–boyfriend–and–brother–pose–for–noh8–campaign.html

86.

Rothaus

(2010d, November). Mike Verdugo, ex-Hollywood cop in 1990s gay porn film, loses Broward court appeal to regain old job. Retrieved from: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2010/11/mike–verdugo–ex–hollywood–cop–in–1990s–gay–porn–film–loses–browardcourt–appeal–to–regain–old–job.html

87.

Rothaus

(2010e, August 10). Mikey V of Design Star fights to keep police certification after porn film leads to firing. Retrieved from: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2010/08/by–steverothaus–srothausmiamiheraldcom–––former–design–star–contestant–mike–verdugofired–from–his–job–as–a–hollywood–co.html

88.

Rumens

, & Broomfield

(2012). Gay men in the police: Identity disclosure and management issues. Human Resource Management Journal, 22(3), 283–298.

89.

Sandelowski

(1994). Focus on qualitative methods: The use of quotes in qualitative research. Research in Nursing and Health, 479–482.

90.

Schmidt

S. W.

, Githens

R. P.

, Rocco

T. S.

, & Kormanik

M. B.

(2012). Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people and human resource development an examination of the literature in adult education and human resource development. Human Resource Development Review, 11(3), 326–348.

91.

Schneider

B. E.

(1986). Coming out at work: Bridging the private/public gap. Work and Occupations, 13, 463–87.

92.

Seale

(1999). Quality in qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 5(4), 465–478.

93.

Sedgwick

E. K.

(1990). Epistemology of the Closet. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press.

94.

Sklansky

D. A.

(2006). Not your father's police department: Making sense of the new demographics of law enforcement. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 96 (3), 1209–1243.

95.

Sick

(2010, November 30). Gay ex–cop denied Hollywood PD badge. Retrieved from: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Gay–Ex–Cop–Denied–Hollywood–PD–Badge–111076814.html

96.

Srisavasdi

(2008). City to pay gay officer up to $2.15 millon. Orange County Register. Retrieved from http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bereki–67890–gay–police.html

97.

Stake

R. E.

(2005). Qualitative case studies. In. Denzin

N.K.

& Lincoln

Y.S.

(Eds.), The Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 443–461). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

98.

Thorp

B. K.

(2010, December 2). Ex–porn actor Michael Verdugo loses appeal to return to force, and the media drop the ball(s). Retrieved from: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2010/12/mike_verdugo_appeal_hollywood_police_department.php

99.

Trice

H. M.

, & Beyer

J. M.

(1984). Studying organizational cultures through rites and ceremonials. Academy of Management Review, 9(4), 653–669.

100.

U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (n.d.). “Local police.” U.S. BJS website. Retrieved August 16, 2013, from: http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=71

101.

Verdugo

(2010a, March 15). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/370057311810

102.

Verdugo

(2010b, March 23). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/104420022926288

103.

Verdugo

(2010c, May 7). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/115201038515282

104.

Verdugo

(2010d, August 6). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/144682038884026

105.

Verdugo

(2010e, August 12). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/117558378294190

106.

Verdugo

(2010f, September 27). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/147590725282030

107.

Verdugo

(2010g, September 27). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/147590725282030

108.

Verdugo

(2010h, October 19). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/105173109548239

109.

Verdugo

(2010i, October 19). Facebook update. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74/posts/143085969070878

110.

Verdugo

(2014). Facebook profile. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mikeyv74

111.

Ward

, & Winstanley

(2005). Coming out at work: Performativity and the recognition and renegotiation of identity. The Sociological Review, 53, 447–75

112.

Wells

T. S.

, Colbert

, & Slate

R. N.

(2006). Gender matters: Differences in state probation officer stress. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 22(1), 63–79.

113.

Woods

J. D.

, & Lucas

J. H.

(1993). The corporate closet: The professional lives of gay men in America. New York, NY: Free Press.

114.

WRMF 97.9 (2010, August 17). Hot topics: Interview with Mikey Verdugo. WRMF online (http://www.wrmf.com/index.php). Retrieved from: http://wrmffm.media.streamtheworld.com/audio/8_17_hot_topics_100793931.mp3

115.

Yin

R. K.

(1981). The case study crisis: Some answers. Administrative Science Quarterly, 26, 58–65.

116.

Yin

R. K.

(2009). Case study research: Design and methods(Vol. 5). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

117.

Yoo

, & Franke

W. D.

(2011). Stress and cardiovascular disease risk in female law enforcement officers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 84(3), 279–286.