Laud Humphreys (1930–1988)

This is an older study which probably couldn't be duplicated today because of ethical standards in the social sciences. Humphreys was able to gain enough entree to the pre-Stonewall gay community to do observations of men having sex with men in public restrooms (tearooms). He writes about how the encounters happen, how all participants are consenting, and how care is taken to not disrupt the more mundane uses of the bathroom. He pleads for tolerance and de-criminalization. My edition includes several essays discussing the ethical difficulties with the study (or any study of a marginalized, criminalized subgroup.… (plus d'informations)