Queer Crime

At the start of 2020, the world was facing something truly unique, horrific, frightening and unexpected. The news coverage was relentless and almost entirely focussed on Covid-19. There was no time or interest in covering anything else. Crimes that would have ordinarily made it onto national or international news channels just didn’t get a look in. 

The appetite for healthcare information was unprecedented as people tried to allay their fears. It meant that almost everyone missed this grisly crime which has been overlooked throughout the world.

This is the story of Diogo Goncalves.

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*** The language in this episode may be triggering from some listeners. The derogatory homophobic words that appeared in my research are the words that I have used as I feel these highlight the bigoted views at the time of this crime. No offence is intended by using these words. ***

In September 1958, a tour guide from Mexico called Fernando Rios was visiting New Orleans where he was leading a group of tourists around the city. At the end of a long day, he got dressed up for a night out. At the same time, three young men were planning their night out too.

This is Fernando’s story.

Twitter: @crime_queer

Instagram: QueerCrime

Website: queercrime.com

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*** The language in this episode may be triggering for some listeners. The derogatory homophobic and transphobic words that appeared in my research are the words that I have used as I feel these highlight the bigoted views of people at the time of this crime. No offence is intended by using these words. ***

Hitler’s dictatorship persecuted, arrested and prosecuted over 100,000 German, French and Austrian gay men during the 12 years they were in power. Gay men were sterilised, castrated, imprisoned, and deported to concentration camps. While they were imprisoned in concentration camps, they were made to wear a pink triangle on their clothes and this allowed the Nazis to distinguish gay men easily from their fellow prisoners.

The treatment of the men with the pink triangles was abhorrent and it is estimated that about 15,000 men with the pink triangles died in the camps.

This episode explores how this was allowed to happen and stories from some survivors.

Twitter: @crime_queer

Web: queercrime.com 

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On Christmas Eve 1985, Chuck Kleveland, a resident of a small village called Chester in Nebraska decided to get his hair cut for the Christmas holidays. He left work and made a quick detour by his house to pick up his shotgun in case he spotted any pheasant.

As he travelled along a small dirt road, scanning the surrounding fields for pheasants, something bright in the ditch caught his eye…

Twitter: @crime_queer

Website: queercrime.com 

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At 1:10am on 14 May 1983, two Highway Patrol Officers observed a car driving erratically on Interstate 5 in Orange County, California. They suspected the driver was drunk and they signalled for him to stop.

The driver pulled over and opened the car door, outrageously emptying the contents of his beer bottle onto the ground as he exited his car. The man identified himself to officers as Randy Kraft.

They didn’t realise it at the time but they had just stopped Randy’s 12-year murder spree.

Twitter: @crime_queer

Website: queercrime.com

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*** The language in this episode may be triggering for some listeners. The derogatory and transphobic words that appeared in my research are the words that I have used as I feel these highlight the bigoted views of people at the time of this crime. No offence is intended by using these words. ***

Could you imagine being a black trans woman in the 1960s? Could you imagine the relentless fight for equality and inclusion and the literal fight for your own safety that you would face? Could you imagine facing all of that … whilst still spreading love and warmth with a genuine smile on your face and acceptance for all people in your heart?

This is the story of Marsha P Johnson.

Twitter: @crime_queer

Website: queercrime.com

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Imagine being stabbed by a stranger just metres away from your home? 

Imagine screaming out in pain and terror within earshot of dozens of people who heard your cries for help ... but no-one did anything?  

Imagine the lack of help that you received during your attack created something which became known around the world as ‘the bystander effect’ … and was also named ‘Genovese syndrome’ after you?  

This is the infamous story of Kitty Genovese.  

Twitter: @crime_queer

Website: queercrime.com

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In 1533, King Henry VIII introduced an Act of Parliament called the Buggery Act. It was England's first sodomy law and it would have lasting repercussions for gay men all over the world.

This is the story of the last two men to be hanged in England under the Buggery Act.

Twitter: @crime_queer

Website: queercrime.com

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In March 2012, the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, urged parliament to speed up the adoption of the law on hate crimes, which had been on the shelf for over seven years. In July 2012, it was signed by the President and came into force. The law is known in Chile as the Zamudio law, in honour of Daniel Zamudio.

This is Daniel’s story. 

Twitter: @crime_queer

Website: queercrime.com

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In May 1924, two children were playing near the Leine River in Hanover when they discovered a human skull. Two weeks later, another human skull was found not far from the location of the first skull.  

Another two weeks passed and two more male skulls were found. All four skulls were determined to be males aged between 11-20 years old. These discoveries were just the start...

This is the story of the Werewolf of Hanover.

Twitter: @crime_queer

Website: queercrime.com

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