Fairy Shaking is a commonly understood term among D.C. policemen, one signifying police blackmail of the city's closeted gay residents, especially those who are married with children.

These blackmailing revelations are occurring at a time when Congress may yet consider, upon its return to the Hill, the passage of ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act) guaranteeing that it is job performance that counts while sexual orientation does not in instances of either hiring or firing.

The Chief of Police in the District of Columbia has learned this lesson the hard way, a full month before Congress reconvenes. His roommate, Lt. Jeffrey S. Stowe, Commander of one of his department's special investigative units, was arrested in the full glare of D.C. publicity, especially embarrassing to his boss/ roomie because Stowe had enjoyed access to confidential reports and tens of thousands of dollars intended to pay informants and protect witnesses. He had also been able to enter top secret computer files and to manufacture phony identification cards.

The relationship between the Police Chief and his roommate (who had become estranged from his wife) was marked by a certain favoritism that each showed to the other. Together they shared a luxury apartment— one using, according to a report, trickery to obtain an abnormally low rent—and they went on "golf vacations" together, according to The Washington Post.

The 42 year-old blackmailer-policeman's method of operation was to hang around a popular downtown X-rated theatre, taking notes over parked autos, especially those with baby seats attached and which therefore signaled a married gay man who, unknown to his family, might be out on the town.

Such persons were the policeman's blackmail victims.

Just prior to this unflattering stage of the 21-year veteran cop's career, he and his wife had attempted unsuccessfully to live the lifestyles of the rich and famous. To keep up with financial demands issuing from their stormy relationship, Lt. Stowe, playing the male provider role, is feared to have transgressed other laws in order to maintain the extravagances he and his wife were enjoying.

After falling behind for overspending, he is believed to have resuscitated his fortunes now and then by conducting occasional, unofficial "fairy shakes." He seems, in fact, to have experienced the shakes himself, especially after realizing FBI agents were about to hoist him high under a most unfavorable light.