How Homophobia Impacted the NYPD's Search for a Serial Killer

In HBO's docuseries Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New Yorkdirector Anthony Caronna examines how a serial killer who is preying on gay men in New York City is able to continue his crimes amid in 1990s, when homophobia in the New York City police department is common and the AIDS crisis is in full swing.

The series is based on an award-winning bookby Elon Green.

"A gripping, investigative crime story, Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York also dives deeply into the prejudices and attitudes of the times, when deep-rooted biases in the criminal justice system and the media’s distorted public perception of the victims undermined the investigation and enabled a brutal killer to prey on a marginalized populace. The complexities of the closet combined with a long-standing mistrust of law enforcement further complicated the case. It also highlights the heroic efforts of activists, including the NYC Anti-Violence Project, to force law enforcement to recognize and protect the queer community," the description of the series reads.

"Queer bars were one of the few places where we could come and feel safe...and then, all the sudden, everything was taken away,” says one interviewee in the trailer.

Below, find a clip of the most recent episode where a gay NYPD cop describes the homophobia in the police force, an issue that may have sustained a killer's rampage.