Nothing makes Americans more insane than sex. They can deal with vivid images of war, starving children and horrifying disasters but God forbid we should expect them to relax about anything that hints of sexuality. In public life, if sex is involved, off with their heads! Despite the fact that everyday Americans practice a wide range of sexual fantasies - regardless of ideology or faith. Many of those who are quick to judge others and cry "Shame!" often have a closet full of dark sexual secrets or fantasies -complete with AA batteries.

Just travel to Hollywood, Florida and ask cop Mike Verdugo or maybe I should say, former cop Mike Verdugo. He is a prime example of the need for all of us to come to terms with the undeniable fact that human beings are sexual people with a wide range of interests. Verdugo was the first openly gay member of the Hollywood, Florida Police Department. For ten years, he performed with the kind of excellence that would make any law enforcement officer proud. He served on the SWAT team and worked in dangerous undercover work to bring a halt to the drug trade in the area. For the entire decade he served with a distinguished record free from any taint or controversy. While suffering some harassment being a gay in the department, it did not stop him from serving with honor, courage and integrity. Verdugo is exactly the kind of policeman we all would like serving in our city.

That is until recently when the shocking discovery was made that before he entered the department, Verdugo actually had a personal life. That means he had adventurous sex. And some of it ended up on film. Wow. That is simply shocking isn't it? One can imagine the thousands of criminals that would flock to Hollywood, Florida if they had that knowledge. The whole system of law enforcement must have been placed at risk. After all, we know with 100% certainty not one of any of the other officers ever had adventurous sexual escapades. Yet statistics tell us that such sexual activity is widespread and it seems a way of life now for couples to take pictures of themselves for their own personal enjoyment or gratification.

Turns out that about six years before joining the Hollywood Police Department, Verdugo did a 'soft porn' and appeared naked in the film. Now, I have to be honest with you here. If I looked like Verdugo, I might be tempted to walk around naked all the time including shopping, meetings and picnics. However, as soon as the pictures were discovered, Verdugo was fired after ten yeas of distinguished service. Am the only one that thinks this ludicrous? He never posed naked as a police officer. We spent tens of thousands of dollars training and developing him over the ten years to create the kind of expert law enforcement we all want. And now he has been officially banished for strictly Puritanical reasons.

Forget the criminals he brought down or the drug dealers driven out of town; the moment we saw his 'magic wanger' with his hands tied, he was toast. Verdugo has taken all of this to court and gone public with his case. He has my admiration and respect. The man just continues to show the kind of courage he gave us every day as a first rate police officer.