Wayne F. Placek Grants

The Wayne F. Placek Grants, established by the American Psychological Foundation, aim to enhance the public's understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues and alleviate associated stresses. Since 1995, over $1 million has been awarded for research focusing on topics like discrimination, family dynamics, and the unique challenges faced by underrepresented LGBTQIA+ groups, particularly Black individuals. In 2024, two grants will be awarded, including a special focus on psychological research concerning Black LGBTQIA+ communities.

Background
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 lesbian women, gay men, bisexual women, bisexual men, and transgender individuals experience in this and future civilizations.
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 lesbian women, gay men, bisexual women, bisexual men, and transgender individuals experience in this and future civilizations. Since 1995, the Placek Fund has granted more than $1 million.
TopicsThe Wayne F. Placek Grant encourages research that addresses the following topics:

• heterosexuals’ attitudes and behaviors toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQIA+) people, including prejudice, discrimination, and violence
• family and workplace issues relevant to LGBTQIA+people
• special concerns of sectors of the LGBTQIA+ population that have historically been underrepresented in scientific research
• issues concerning Black LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities

APF will give away two Wayne F. Placek Grants in 2024. One of these grants, the Wayne F. Placek Grant in Memorial of John Peterson, will be focused on psychological research into issues concerning Black LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities, that is conducted by scholars of color.
Wayne F. Placek was initially a research subject of Evelyn Hooker, a groundbreaking psychologist whose 1950s research laid the foundation for the view that homosexuality was not a form of psychopathology. Ultimately, Hooker’s research led to the removal of homosexuality as a clinical diagnosis. Placek, who identified as a gay man, was a participant in Hooker’s studies. Placek was so moved by Hooker’s work that he left his entire estate to her. He instructed that the money be used to advance the general public’s understanding of LGBTQIA+ individuals and reduce the stress and adversity experienced by members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Today, the Wayne F. Placek Grant has funded over $1 million in LGBTQIA+ research.

Eligibility

APF encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds with respect to age, race, color, religion, creed, nationality, ability, sexual orientation, gender, and geography.
Applicants must be either a doctoral-level researcher or graduate student affiliated with an educational institution or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization.
Graduate students and early career researchers are encouraged to apply.