Wayne F. Placek Grants

The Wayne F. Placek Grant encourages research to increase the general public's understanding of homosexuality and sexual orientation, and to alleviate the stress that LGBTQIA+ individuals experience in this and future civilizations. Since 1995, the Placek Fund has granted more than $1 million. The grant addresses topics including heterosexuals' attitudes and behaviors toward LGBTQIA+ people (including prejudice, discrimination, and violence), family and workplace issues relevant to LGBTQIA+ people, special concerns of historically underrepresented sectors of the LGBTQIA+ population, and issues concerning Black LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. APF awards two grants annually, with one specifically designated as the Wayne F. Placek Grant in Memorial of John Peterson, focused on psychological research into issues concerning Black LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities conducted by scholars of color. Wayne F. Placek was a research subject of psychologist Evelyn Hooker whose groundbreaking 1950s research led to the removal of homosexuality as a clinical diagnosis.