Queer Serial Killers and the True Crime Genre

Although an overwhelming majority of serial killers are men, a detailed consideration of their masculinity is virtually absent from analyses of the serial killing phenomenon. In this talk, queer criminologist Dr Brian Frederick -- presently appearing on TVs “Making a Serial Killer,” “Meet, Marry, Murder” and “Killer USA” – argues that an analysis of their queerness is also absent – not only in research, but in the ‘true crime’ genre.

Drawing upon some of the theoretical concepts developed in the study of the media’s “representation” of crime, Dr. Frederick’s research provides an analysis of true crime TV content that features – in whole or in part – queer men who are serial killers (QMSKs). The talk will explore some of the broader true crime narratives that are specific to serial killers, in general, before focusing on the aspects of QMSKs and their crimes that are “missing” from the true crime genre.

Dr. Brian Frederick is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at SUNY Empire State College in Brooklyn. In addition to serial murder, his research has explored queer drug use, intimate partner homicide, and the intersection of LGBTQIA folx and the US/UK criminal justice systems.

For questions and more info, please reach out to Dr. Brian Frederick at (914) 285-7196, ext. 3458 or brian.frederick@esc.edu.