Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes one or more high-profile criminal cases involving queer people. It discusses not only what is visible or emphasized by the media but also what is invisible in the accounting or societal focus surrounding the case. The book describes several queer male serial killers, arguing that an examination of the killers’ queerness is often missing from a consideration of these cases. It discusses the sensationalism often present in stories about queer male serial killers. The book describes how the media seizes upon outdated tropes of queer people as being dangerous and deviant to portray queer folks as perpetrators. It examines the media coverage of the Matthew Shepard murder, almost 25 years after the brutal killing. The book examines a tragic case of murder-suicide and family violence, colloquially referred to as the Hart Family Murders.