The Greatest Menace
Inside the Gay Prison Experiment
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The Greatest Menace
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Narrated by:
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Patrick Abboud
About this listen
Gold winner in the Social Justice Podcast category, and awarded Bronze in the Serialized Podcast and Narrative/Documentary Podcast categories at the 2022 New York Festivals Radio Award
Please note: Contains strong language and adult content.
Tucked away amongst snow-covered mountains is a tiny Australian town with a dark secret. Journalist Patrick Abboud hears whispers that it was once home to the world’s only 'gay prison'. A prison that specifically incarcerated gay men. His investigation into what happened inside reveals the full story for the first time. This queer true-crime journey takes you from underground nightclubs to hidden sex haunts, to remote parts of New Zealand and England. You’ll find yourself entangled in a police cover up, a case of wrongful conviction and a human experiment that didn’t go to plan. At the centre of it all was a covert government operation to eradicate 'the greatest menace to society': homosexuality.
Written by Simon Cunich and Patrick Abboud.
Presented by Patrick Abboud. This Audible Original is produced by Lockdown Productions Pty Ltd.
Patrick Abboud was the Jesse Cox Audio Fellow 2020, with support from its founding sponsor Audible, its production partner Unison Sound and its festival partners Third Coast International Audio Festival and Audiocraft Podcast Festival.
©2022 Lockdown Productions Pty Ltd. (P)2022 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.Featured Article: Best of the Year—The 10 Best True Crime Listens of 2022
While humans have devoured crime stories since Cain and Abel, the line between sensitive reporting and vulturous rubbernecking has been crossed, and then deliberately redrawn, time and again. In a year when true crime TV again made headlines for centering perpetrators and disregarding survivors, these 10 outstanding listens quietly went in a different direction, setting a new standard of excellence for riveting storytelling with a heart of justice.
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What listeners say about The Greatest Menace
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 01-05-23
A shocking revelation into Queer culture
As a gay journalist in the U.S., the immense work and detail that went into bringing these stories to life in this podcast is beyond amazing. Thank you Patrick and all of the brave queer people who shared their stories. 10/10 recommend!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kasie Brooke Gher
- 12-17-22
Interesting
Very interesting but also very sad. I can’t imagine what all those mean had to endure.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- tim jarden-ross
- 03-08-22
Amazing
Just amazing I can’t believe what I have just finished listening too. A listen for all that’s for sure
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lopaka holmberg
- 07-29-22
Must read!!
Loved it and it opened my eyes a whole lot!! Mahalo for writing and exposing the corruption or the government and systems.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-04-22
Shame was weaponised
What an incredibly disturbing story yet weaved with multiple uplifting stories of strength within it including that of the narrator. What struck and has stayed with me is as was stated in the podcast “shame was weaponised” . As an avid follower of Brene Brown and her research on shame I hope she listens to this. This story needs to be heard wider so the shame land in the hand of where it belongs, the people who made and enforced these laws and conducted these experiments.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- lk
- 01-14-23
Thank you for researching and writing this excellent podcast. You’ve exposed a piece of history that we need to know about. The love comes through Eternal Thanks.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- MacInOhio
- 03-15-22
Brilliant investigation and reporting!
Patrick Abboud and Simon Cunich brilliantly performed a life saving service for those who been targeted by weaponized shaming. Thank you, Patrick, for introducing me to heroes like Jacquie Grant. The Greatest Menace is a masterpiece.
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- Allan
- 05-26-22
Captivating story
I’m a gay man in America but to learn about a gay prison anywhere in the world was a shock this story is full of Mystery and secrets lots of twists and some truly amazing people it captivated me
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- ColdMama
- 12-31-22
Sad and interesting look into history of bigotry
The horrible treatment of gay men, in particular, has been appalling throughout the world. This particular story shows the ugliness we humans can perpetuate on each other.
Being homosexual has never been contagious. The fear of finding out one is homesexual is. I do, most definitely, blame people in the past for their intolerance. Homosexuals are just people who happen to like sex a little different than many. Show me a cis (straight) man who doesn't think of sticking his pens in pretty much any hole available.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-18-22
Informative
Loved getting to hear people's first hand experiences, definitely would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the history of the lgbtq+ community back in the day in Australia. I my self hadn't heard about the prison before and I it was fascinating to learn about.
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