Buck Child
10/11/06
Reading Summary: Tearoom Trade
Author: Laud Humphreys
About the Author
 Seminary student with the Episcopal Church (first encounter with homosexual subculture)
 Professor of sociology at Pitzer College
 Most famous publication was the “Tearoom Trade” (1975)
 Only declared his homosexuality many years after undertaking the research, making him an
outsider in the very covert/illegal subculture he was studying
 Was married from 1960 to 1980
 Died in 1988
Summary
Over the course of 2 years (1964 to 1966) Humphreys researched “deviant” homosexual activity in
the United States. Humphrey’s interest in the subject derived from his experience providing guidance to
homosexual males during his years as a seminarian. Through his interactions with his parishioners and
graduate research into the culture of homosexuality he learned of the “tearoom trade” – uncommitted
homosexual intercourse between consenting partners in public locations (restrooms, truck stops, etc.). As a
doctoral student he then undertook research into the specific subculture of homosexual activity in public
settings which became the basis for this publication.
Methods
 Was a follow up to other sociological research on homosexuality (Kinsley and others)

Background research (parishioners, conversations with gay men, taxi drivers, park employees)

Primarily observed restrooms in public parks to try and obtain a relatively average perspective on
closet homosexual deviance

“Learned the language”

Integration/entree’ into the homosexual community at gay bars and after hours places

Assumed the identity of a homosexual male to gain acceptance

Eventually disclosed his research intentions to “trusted” and “friendly” respondents who
provided him with the necessary info about locating “tearooms”

Studied potential tearoom locations making observations about identifying features and
commonalities between the various locations (access to roads, relative isolation, graffiti, others)

Entered the scene by assuming the identity of a voyeur, “watchqueen”, and waiter

Very deceptive in his research which he stated was imperative to the research

If proposed today such research might not be approved by an IRB because of the sensitivity of
the issue, danger it poses to participants, and deceptions which occurred during the research

Humphrey estimated that 16% of white American males participate in tearoom activities