Robert Allan Humphreys (1930–1988), known as Laud Humphreys, was an American sociologist and Episcopal priest. He is noted for his research into sexual encounters between men in public bathrooms, published as Tearoom Trade (1970) and for the questions that emerged from what was overwhelmingly considered unethical research methods. He influenced generations of scholars who research issues related to sexuality and sexual identity. Biography Robert Allan Humphreys was born on October 16, 1930, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Ira Denver Humphreys and Stella Bernice Humphreys. "Laud" was chosen as his first name when he was baptized again upon entering the Episcopal Church. Education Humphreys graduated from Chickasha High School (Chickasha, Oklahoma) in 1948. He then attended Colorado College, graduating with his BA in 1952. He attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary (in Evanston, Illinois), graduating with the MDiv degree in 1955. In 1965, he entered graduate school at Washington University to pursue a PhD in sociology. His dissertation adviser was Lee Rainwater. Humphreys obtained two pre-doctoral research fellowships from the National Institute of Mental Health to fund his dissertation research. He completed his dissertation in 1968, graduated with his PhD in that year. He published the dissertation as Tearoom Trade: Impersonal Sex in Public Places in 1970. His book won the C. Wright Mills Award from the Society for the Study of Social Problems in 1969. Due to the controversy around his research methods and the topic of his research, there was a failed attempt by the chancellor of Washington University to rescind his PhD. Personal life and career After graduating with his PhD from Washington University, Humphreys was an assistant professor of sociology at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, from 1968 to 1970. He was associate professor of sociology at the School of Criminal Justice, State University of New York in Albany 1970–1972. He was associate professor of sociology at Pitzer College, in Claremont, California, from 1972 to 1975; he earned full professorship at Pitzer in 1975, where he worked until about 1980, when he began to focus on his psychotherapist practice. Humphreys belonged to several sociological professional organizations, including the American Sociological Association (ASA), the Society for the Study of Social Problems, the Pacific Sociological Association, and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. He was a charter member of the International Academy of Sex Research. During his academic career, he served on a number of editorial boards and served as chair