Beers with Queers A True Crime Podcast

A brutal murder. A courtroom battle that captured the nation. And a legacy that changed LGBTQ+ history forever.In Part 2, we return to the murder of Matthew Shepard to uncover the investigation, the controversial gay panic defense, and the trial that captivated a nation. As his killers faced justice, Matthew’s family turned unimaginable grief into a fight for change, helping pave the way for landmark hate crime legislation. Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers explores this defining case through true crime with a queer perspective. Grab a cold one and join us as we remember Matthew, not just for how he died, but for how he lived.

A life stolen. A community shaken. A fight for justice that changed history.In October 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard was a promising college student with dreams of a future that was finally beginning to take shape. But one night in Laramie, Wyoming, turned his life into one of the most infamous hate crimes in American history. In Part One, we explore Matthew’s life, the events leading to his brutal attack, and the tragedy that became a defining moment in queer history. Join Jordi and Brad for this deeply moving episode of Beers With Queers.

In 1958 Charleston, South Carolina, the murder of 29-year-old Jack Dobbins became one of the city's most sensational criminal cases. On Halloween night, Dobbins met 18-year-old Air Force airman John Mahon at Club 49, a Charleston establishment known for attracting gay patrons. The two eventually went to Dobbins' home on Queen Street, where Mahon later testified that Dobbins made unwanted sexual advances toward him. The following morning, Dobbins was discovered dead on his living-room sofa, having suffered fatal blows to the head from a large brass candlestick. Mahon surrendered to authorities and admitted striking Dobbins, but maintained that he had acted in self-defense. Prosecutors argued that robbery was the motive, while the defense placed Dobbins' sexuality and Mahon's allegations of sexual advances at the center of the case.The resulting trial exposed the intense homophobia and social pressures surrounding Charleston's gay community during the 1950s. Dobbins' private life became a major component of the courtroom proceedings, while Mahon's status as a young serviceman helped shape the defense's portrayal of him. After three days of testimony, a jury acquitted Mahon of murder in the early hours of December 11, 1958. The verdict brought an end to the criminal case but left a lasting impact on Charleston's LGBTQ community, many of whom feared that the proceedings demonstrated how little protection gay victims could expect from the justice system. Today, the Candlestick Murder is remembered not only as the story of a violent death, but as a revealing window into sexuality, military culture, prejudice, and justice in 1950s America.

Forty-seven sailors were dead. The Navy had an answer that wasn't an accident but pointed to one dead man.In 1989, the USS Iowa suffered a catastrophic turret explosion that killed everyone inside. Investigators soon focused on Clayton Hartwig, his life insurance policy, and rumors about his relationship with another sailor. As the case unfolded, an LGBTQ+ true crime story emerged alongside questions about military culture, homophobia, and whether a dead sailor had been turned into a convenient scapegoat. But independent investigators would later challenge key parts of the Navy’s case, raising a haunting question: was this a crime, an accident, or an investigative failure?Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers explores true crime with a queer perspective, uncovering the darkest corners of LGBTQ+ history. Press play, grab a drink, and join us for one of the Navy’s most controversial mysteries.

A dream cross-country bike trip. A deserted campground. And a stranger who arrived in the darkness with an axe.In 1977, Yale students Terri Jentz and Avra Goldman were cycling across America when their journey took a horrifying turn at Cline Falls State Park. In the middle of the night, a pickup truck crashed through their tent, leaving both women gravely injured, then he attacked with an ax before he vanished into the darkness. Years later, Terri returned to Oregon and began investigating the case herself, uncovering lost evidence, forgotten suspects, and questions that still have no definitive answer. This is the Cline Falls Axe Attack, a chilling unsolved mystery and a story of survival, trauma, and one woman’s relentless search for answers.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers explores true crime, queer history, and forgotten stories with a queer perspective. Grab a cold one and press play.

A day that changed the world and some of the queer lives caught in its path.Twenty-five years after 9/11, we remember several LGBTQ+ victims whose stories deserve to be told. From longtime partners denied recognition after their loved ones died, to a gay Catholic FDNY chaplain who ran into the chaos to help others, and an openly gay passenger aboard United 93 who helped fight back, these are stories of love, loss, courage, and queer history. In this episode we look beyond the headlines and remember the people behind one of the darkest days in American history.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings true crime with a queer perspective, forgotten LGBTQ+ stories, and queer history to light, all with a cold one in hand. Press play, grab a drink, and remember the lives behind the tragedy.