The tearoom trade, also known as the "homosexual solicitation panic," was a social phenomenon that occurred in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. It was characterized by the fear and panic surrounding the perceived threat of homosexual activity in public restrooms, particularly in men's restrooms, or "tearooms."
The term "tearoom trade" was coined by sociologist Laud Humphreys in his 1970 book "Tearoom Trade: Impersonal Sex in Public Places." Humphreys conducted a study of the behavior of men who engaged in anonymous sexual encounters in public restrooms in St. Louis, Missouri. He observed that these encounters were typically brief and impersonal, with little or no conversation between the participants.
Humphreys' study sparked controversy and outrage when it was published, as it challenged traditional views of homosexuality and suggested that many of the men engaging in these encounters were not necessarily gay or even attracted to other men. Instead, Humphreys argued that these men were motivated by a variety of factors, including boredom, curiosity, and a desire for novelty and excitement.
The tearoom trade was part of a larger cultural fear and stigmatization of homosexuality in the United States during the mid-20th century. Homosexuality was widely seen as a moral and psychological deviance, and laws criminalizing homosexuality were common throughout the country. The fear of homosexuality in public restrooms was fueled by a number of high-profile arrests and scandals involving men engaging in sexual activity in these spaces.
As a result of this fear and stigmatization, many men who engaged in the tearoom trade were forced to lead double lives, hiding their sexual identities and behaviors from the public. Many of these men were also subjected to harassment, discrimination, and violence as a result of their perceived deviance.
Despite the controversy and stigma surrounding the tearoom trade, Humphreys' study and the broader social phenomenon it described have had a lasting impact on our understanding of homosexuality and the complexities of human sexuality. Today, attitudes towards homosexuality have changed significantly, and many of the laws and social stigmas that once criminalized and stigmatized homosexuality have been overturned. However, the tearoom trade serves as a reminder of the fear and discrimination that have long been directed towards those who are perceived as different or outside the norm.
