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Epilogue There is no doubt that had Laud Humphreys not shortened his life by smoking cigarettes, Americans would be hearing from him today. It was recently noted that, in spite of the growing acceptance of homosexuality , in the new millennium tearooms and “cruising networks still generally resemble [what] Humphreys studied a generation ago” (Hoover 2003, A31). And even though “many colleges now provide more social outlets for gay students does not mean that tearooms have lost their appeal ” (A31). Tearooms still provide an outlet for those who fear identification with a gay subculture. In 2001 the Boston University Police Department began undercover stings arresting many men in the campus bathrooms. George Washington University also uses plainclothes officers to patrol bathrooms. It is safe to assume that Laud would protest such law-enforcement practices. As the AIDS epidemic has ravaged the world, he would certainly be a champion of increased spending on AIDS research and treatment. And as an academic he would be among those insisting that all universities offer complete spousal benefits for those involved in same-sex relationships . And without doubt Laud would have a leadership role among those criticizing university IRBs as they have moved to circumscribe social science research. Surely Laud would have a public role in the contemporary peace movement. This said, it is clear how much American sociology and American society miss by his absence. Just now, Laud would be proud of the Episcopal church for the ordination of its first openly gay bishop. 105 Appendixes References Index ...

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