A body hidden beneath a mattress. A confession lost to suicide. And two families refusing to let her be forgotten.

Venus Xtravaganza was a rising star in New York’s ballroom scene, immortalized in the landmark documentary Paris Is Burning. But before the film could finish, Venus was found strangled in a Manhattan hotel room in 1988. Her murder went unsolved, her legacy nearly erased. Now, decades later, I'm Your Venus, a powerful new LGBTQ+ true crime documentary follows her biological brothers and her chosen family from the House of Xtravaganza as they reopen the cold case, uncover shocking new evidence, and fight to reclaim her name and story.

In this episode Jordi and Brad dives deep into Venus’s life, her death, and her enduring legacy, and even covers some information that isn't talked about in either of the documentaries covering her life. So press play, pour yourself a drink, and toast to uncovering queer stories too powerful to forget.

A Pride event. Armed neo-Nazis. And a police escort that sparked national outrage.

In June 2019, Detroit’s Motor City Pride festival was disrupted by members of the National Socialist Movement—a neo-Nazi group—who marched through the event openly carrying firearms, tearing apart Pride flags, and hurling racist and homophobic slurs. Police officers formed a protective barrier around the group, escorting them through the crowd while pushing back counter-protesters. The disturbing images of Black officers shielding white supremacists in a majority-Black city ignited fierce backlash and raised urgent questions about who law enforcement truly protects.

This episode of Beers With Queers dives into the events of that day, unpacking the deep tensions between the LGBTQ+ community and law enforcement. We examine how the police response mirrored broader patterns of systemic bias, and why the legacy of the Stonewall uprising still resonates. From the rise of armed hate groups at Pride events to the ongoing struggle for queer safety and visibility, we explore a chilling chapter in LGBTQ+ true crime history.

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.

With the LGBT+ Branch of the 988 Help Line being shut down, if you or someone you know needs help or just someone to talk to, The Trevor Project is available 24/7 year-round. You can reach them by phone at 1 866 488 7386 or through Chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-HelpRemember there are people out there who care and want to help you.

They dazzled onstage in feathers and pearls and then vanished under police raids and moral panic.

For a brief, glittering moment, drag queens were the toast of Prohibition-era nightlife… until they became public enemy number one.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, America’s biggest cities erupted in what came to be known as the Pansy Craze a cultural explosion where openly queer performers headlined clubs, captivated audiences, and redefined gender expression under the glare of the spotlight. But behind the applause lurked danger. As the nation’s tolerance gave way to censorship and crackdowns, the very performers who once symbolized freedom were driven back into the shadows. In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of this forgotten chapter in queer history and what it reveals about the cost of visibility.

If you're craving a queer history podcast that unearths lost legacies and buried truths, Beers With Queers delivers stories that are bold, emotional, and overdue.

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.