If you’ve spent any time in the true crime rabbit hole lately—maybe you just watched Woman of the Hour on Netflix—you’ve probably seen the question popping up on Reddit and TikTok: was Rodney Alcala gay?
It’s a weird question to ask about a man who literally appeared on a show called The Dating Game to win a date with a woman. But truth is often weirder than the scripted TV sets of the 1970s. Rodney Alcala was a monster, a "killing machine" according to the detectives who chased him, and his sexuality is a topic that comes up because of some very specific, high-profile details from his trials and his personal life.
Honestly, the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It’s about the messy, dark reality of a predator who didn't fit into a neat little box.
The Evidence That Fuels the Speculation
People aren't just making this up for clicks. There are actual, documented reasons why the "was Rodney Alcala gay" search term exists.
First, let's talk about the hair and the jewelry. During his 2010 trial, Alcala acted as his own lawyer. It was a circus. He spoke to himself in the third person, played clips of himself on The Dating Game, and pointed out that he was wearing gold earrings in 1978. He used this as a defense, basically saying, "Look at how I looked back then; I couldn't have been the guy you're looking for."
In the late 70s, a man wearing earrings—especially two—carried a specific social connotation that many people associated with being gay or at least "androgynous." He had this long, flowing hair and a vibe that some fellow contestants on the show described as "effeminate" or just "off."
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Then there are the photos.
When police raided a Seattle storage locker belonging to Alcala in 1979, they found over 1,000 photographs. Most were of women and teenage girls in compromising or "artistic" poses. However, there were also many photos of teenage boys and young men. This collection suggested a much broader, more predatory range of interests than the public initially realized.
The Military Diagnosis
If you look at his discharge papers from the U.S. Army in 1964, things get even more clinical. Alcala was discharged after a nervous breakdown. Military psychiatrists at the time didn't just label him with "Antisocial Personality Disorder."
In some of the diagnostic records that surfaced later, there were mentions of "sexual deviancy." In the early 60s, the military used that term as a catch-all for anything they didn't like, including homosexuality or "atypical" sexual interests. While it doesn't prove he was gay, it shows that the authorities recognized his sexual identity was fractured and "non-traditional" very early on.
Was He Gay or Just a Predator?
The thing about serial killers like Alcala is that their "orientation" is often secondary to their "paraphilia."
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Basically, Alcala was a sexual sadist.
Experts like Dr. Park Dietz, who has interviewed some of the most notorious killers in history, often point out that for men like Alcala, the thrill isn't necessarily about "man vs. woman." It’s about power. It’s about the "game." Alcala would strangle his victims until they lost consciousness, wait for them to wake up, and then do it again.
That isn't about romance. It's about total control.
While the vast majority of his known victims were women—like 12-year-old Robin Samsoe or 23-year-old Cornelia Crilley—the presence of those photos of boys in his locker suggests his predatory nature didn't have a strict boundary.
Why the Question Still Matters
We ask "was Rodney Alcala gay" because we want to understand the "why." If he was gay, was he using The Dating Game as a cover? Was he "passing" in a society that was much more homophobic back then?
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Some people believe he was bisexual. Others think he used his "pretty boy" looks and slightly feminine charm to disarm women. If a guy looks a little "softer" or more "sensitive," a woman might feel safer with him in a darkroom or a photography studio.
That was Alcala’s whole MO. He was a "photographer." He used that lens to bridge the gap between stranger and predator.
What the Facts Actually Tell Us
If we stick strictly to the court records and the confirmed victims, here is what we know for sure:
- Victim Profile: Almost all of his convicted murders involved females.
- The Photos: His collection included hundreds of subjects, including men and boys, many of whom have never been identified.
- Behavioral Reports: Fellow contestants on The Dating Game didn't describe him as "gay," but they did describe him as "creepy" and "arrogant." Jed Mills, who sat next to him on the show, said Alcala was "obnoxious" and "imposing."
- Psychological Profile: He was diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. People with these traits often use whoever is available to satisfy their needs, regardless of gender.
Final Insights on the Alcala Mystery
So, was Rodney Alcala gay? There is no evidence he ever identified that way. However, there is plenty of evidence that his sexual interests were predatory and far-reaching. He likely used his fluid, androgynous appearance as a tool to manipulate both the women he hunted and the society that watched him on TV.
If you’re looking for a deeper dive into how he slipped through the cracks, your best bet is to look into the Alcala Photo Collection. The LAPD released hundreds of these photos years ago, hoping to identify more victims.
Checking those archives (which are still available online through various news outlets) is a sobering reminder that for Alcala, people weren't partners or even "orientations"—they were just subjects to be captured and broken.
Next Steps for True Crime Researchers:
- Search for the "1979 Alcala Storage Locker Photos" to see the range of his subjects and understand the scale of his unidentified victims.
- Read the 2010 Trial Transcripts regarding his self-defense; it's a masterclass in how a psychopath tries to use "social norms" (like wearing earrings) to gaslight a jury.
- Watch the original 1978 footage of The Dating Game to see if you can spot the "creepy" energy that Cheryl Bradshaw felt the moment the cameras stopped rolling.