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Beers with Queers A True Crime Podcast
183. Disco Demolition Night aka "The Night Disco was Murdered for being Gay"
A stadium packed with thousands… and a bomb waiting at center field.
They came to destroy disco but what erupted that night exposed something far deeper.
On July 12, 1979, what started as a cheap baseball promotion at Chicago’s Comiskey Park spiraled into chaos now known as Disco Demolition Night. Fans were promised discounted tickets if they brought disco records—records that would be blown up between games. But when the explosion hit, the crowd surged, the field was overtaken, and the night descended into a full-scale riot that forced a forfeited game. Beneath the surface, this wasn’t just about music, it was a backlash against a culture rooted in Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ communities, making it one of the most controversial moments in queer history. In this LGBTQ+ true crime podcast episode, we unpack the night disco “died”… and what was really being targeted.
Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers dives into chilling true crime with a queer perspective, exposing the stories history tried to bury.
Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we unravel the chaos, culture, and consequences behind one explosive night.
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194. 194. Michael Lupo The Wolfman Of London
32:04||Ep. 194A city gripped by fear. A killer hiding in plain sight. And a deadly wave of misinformation that turned an epidemic into a hunting ground.As HIV/AIDS spread across Britain in the mid-1980s, London's LGBTQ+ community found itself fighting on two fronts, against a devastating virus and against the hatred it fueled. When gay men began disappearing after nights out in London's most popular queer bars, police initially dismissed the murders as isolated incidents. But as the bodies continued to pile up, a horrifying pattern emerged. This episode of Beers With Queers explores the chilling case of Michael Lupo, the so-called "Wolfman of London," whose murderous crusade was fueled by fear, homophobia, and the misinformation surrounding the AIDS crisis. It's a haunting chapter of queer history that reveals how prejudice can become just as deadly as the disease itself, making this a powerful story for anyone interested in LGBTQ+ true crime, queer history, and true crime with a queer perspective.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers uncovers chilling crimes, forgotten queer stories, and the injustices history tried to bury, all with a cold one in hand. Grab a drink, press play, and join us as we shine a light on one of the darkest and most overlooked chapters in LGBTQ+ history.
193. 193. The Sacred Band of Thebes An Army Of 150 Gay Couples That Brought Sparta To Its Knees
50:40||Ep. 193They were told Sparta could never be defeated. Then 300 warriors, 150 pairs of same-sex lovers changed history forever.Forged in the shadow of tyranny, the Sacred Band of Thebes wasn't just an elite military unit, it was the first of its kind, made up of 150 pairs of devoted male lovers who fought side by side against the most feared army in the ancient world. In this episode, Jordi and Brad explore one of the greatest stories in queer history, from secret rebellions and impossible battlefield victories to the heartbreaking final stand that transformed these warriors into legends. It's a powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and love that proves history's most extraordinary heroes are often the ones left out of the history books. If you love LGBTQ+ true crime podcast storytelling, queer history, and true crime with a queer perspective that uncovers forgotten LGBTQ+ stories, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, remarkable queer stories, and forgotten LGBTQ+ history back into the spotlight, all with a cold one in hand. Grab a drink, press play, and discover why the legend of the Sacred Band of Thebes still resonates more than 2,300 years later.
192. Robert Wone - One of America's Most Baffling Unsolved Murder Cases Part 2
37:33|A trusted friend. A quiet overnight stay. And within just 79 minutes, a successful young lawyer was dead inside a Washington, D.C. home, leaving behind one of the most baffling unsolved murders in modern true crime.In Part 2 of our coverage of the murder of Robert Wone, we unravel the disturbing forensic evidence, conflicting timelines, and unanswered questions that continue to haunt investigators nearly two decades later. From allegations of a staged crime scene to theories that have divided the true crime community, this LGBTQ+ true crime podcast explores a case where every answer seems to create even more questions. Join us as we examine one of the most mysterious murders ever investigated through a true crime with a queer perspective, separating speculation from documented evidence while searching for the truth that has remained hidden for years.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light, all with a cold one in hand. Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we uncover the darkest corners of LGBTQ+ history and the mysteries that still refuse to be solved.
191. 191. Robert Wone - One of America's Most Baffling Unsolved Murder Cases Part 1
46:04||Ep. 191A trusted friend. A quiet night in Washington, D.C. And less than 80 minutes later, Robert Eric Wone was dead.When successful attorney Robert Wone asks to spend the night at the home of a longtime college friend after working late, it seems like the safest decision he could make. Instead, he becomes the victim of one of America's most baffling unsolved murder cases. In Part 1, Jordi and Brad unravel the events leading up to that night, introduce the key players, and reconstruct the minute-by-minute timeline that has left investigators, journalists, and true crime fans searching for answers for nearly two decades. Join this LGBTQ+ true crime podcast as we explore a chilling mystery through a queer perspective, where friendship, trust, and a single terrifying night collide in a case that still refuses to be solved.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light, all with a cold one in hand. Press play, grab a drink, and help us uncover one of the most mysterious cases in modern queer history.
190. 190. Scotty Bowers And The Secret Gay History Of The Golden Age Of Hollywood
40:09||Ep. 190A gas station attendant with a plan. A hidden network. And the secret desires of Hollywood’s biggest stars.Fresh from the horrors of World War II, a young Marine named Scotty Bowers arrived in Los Angeles looking for work. What he found instead was a city built on illusion, where fame came with morality clauses, careers could be destroyed by a rumor, and countless queer stars were forced to live in the shadows. From an ordinary gas station on Hollywood Boulevard, Scotty would become the keeper of some of Old Hollywood’s most closely guarded secrets.In this episode, we dive into one of the most fascinating chapters of queer history and explore the underground world that thrived behind the glamorous façade of the Golden Age of cinema. Through whispered encounters, hidden parties, and a network built on discretion, this story reveals how LGBTQ+ people found connection and survival in an era determined to erase them. If you love queer history, true crime with a queer perspective, and the untold stories that shaped LGBTQ+ culture, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light, all with a cold one in hand.Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we uncover the darkest corners of LGBTQ+ history.
189. 189. The Hanky Code aka "How Did Gay People Meet Before Grindr?"
41:26||Ep. 189A rainbow of secrets. A coded language. And a hidden world built for survival.Long before Grindr, Scruff, Sniffies, or social media, queer men relied on an intricate system of colored bandanas to communicate desires, identities, and interests in a world where being yourself could be dangerous. In this Pride Month episode, Jordi and Brad dive into the fascinating history of the Hanky Code, exploring its disputed origins, ties to leather culture, and how this colorful piece of queer history became one of the community’s most iconic symbols. Then, things take a hilarious turn as Brad’s knowledge is put to the test in a game that proves just how complex and surprisingly specific the code really was. This LGBTQ+ true crime podcast may be taking a break from murder this week, but it’s still a journey through queer history with plenty of laughs and unexpected discoveries along the way.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light, all with a cold one in hand.Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we uncover the colorful secrets hidden throughout LGBTQ+ history.
188. 188. Steven Simpson - Burned Alive By Party Crashers At his Own Birthday Party
42:39||Ep. 188A birthday celebration. A vulnerable young man. And a night of cruelty that would leave a community demanding answers.When Steven Simpson turned eighteen, he had every reason to celebrate. Openly gay, living independently despite autism, epilepsy, and other challenges, Steven had worked hard to build a life on his own terms. But what began as a gathering of friends in his South Yorkshire flat quickly spiraled into something far darker. As the night unfolded, humiliation, bullying, and violence blurred the line between a cruel joke and a devastating tragedy. In this LGBTQ+ true crime podcast episode, we examine a case that shocked the United Kingdom, sparked outrage among disability and LGBTQ+ advocates, and raised difficult questions about hate crimes, justice, and the way vulnerable people are treated by society. More than a gay murder case, Steven's story remains a haunting reminder of how prejudice and indifference can have fatal consequences.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light, all with a cold one in hand.Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we uncover the darkest corners of LGBTQ+ history.
187. 187. Gay Love, Betrayal, Murder, Scandal And The Bible The Legacy of King James I Part 2
37:12||Ep. 187A king haunted by controversy. A court drowning in secrets. And a murder so scandalous it helped poison the English crown itself.Long before the King James Bible shaped the English speaking world, King James I was navigating a palace fueled by forbidden desire, ruthless ambition, and deadly political games. James grew up isolated, abused, and desperate for affection. As an adult, he openly surrounded himself with powerful male favorites in a country where accusations of same-sex intimacy could lead to execution under the Buggery Act. But when his handsome favorite Robert Carr became entangled with the ambitious Howard family and the brilliant, fiercely devoted Thomas Overbury, the royal court spiraled toward one of the most infamous murder conspiracies in queer history.What followed was a chilling saga of obsession, betrayal, poison, political coverups, and public humiliation inside the Tower of London. In this LGBTQ+ true crime podcast episode, we unravel the horrifying murder of Thomas Overbury, the explosive scandal surrounding King James I’s inner circle, and the deadly consequences of living queer lives inside Jacobean England’s brutal system of power. From secret relationships and ecclesiastical courts to torture, executions, and royal corruption, this is true crime with a queer perspective at its darkest and most devastating.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light—all with a cold one in hand.
186. 186. Gay Love, Betrayal, Murder, Scandal And The Bible: The Legacy of King James I Part 1
32:12||Ep. 186A poisoned enema. A shadow king. And a royal court where desire could be just as deadly as treason.What began as King James I’s obsession with beautiful young men would spiral into one of the most dangerous and scandalous power struggles in queer history.In this episode of Beers With Queers, Jordi and Brad dive deep into the dark and twisted world of the Jacobean court, where political ambition, forbidden same-sex relationships, and ruthless betrayal collided beneath the gilded halls of Whitehall Palace. Long before the King James Bible became the most widely printed book in human history, King James himself was navigating a violent world shaped by trauma, paranoia, and intensely public relationships with powerful male favorites. From the brutal murder of his father and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the rise of Robert Carr and the brilliant, possessive Thomas Overbury, this LGBTQ+ true crime story unfolds like a real-life Game of Thrones.As secret alliances form and enemies gather in the shadows, the line between love, manipulation, and survival begins to blur. This is queer history at its most dangerous. A true crime story filled with political intrigue, royal scandal, and deadly consequences.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light, all with a cold one in hand.Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we uncover one of the most shocking scandals in gay history.