The MSM (Non)Identity: Toward Understanding Sexual Behavior and Identity in Health Research and Practice with Straight Men Under the Umbrella

Men who have sex with men (MSM) that identify as straight/heterosexual are frequently grouped into a general and indiscriminant category based solely on their sexual behavior. Though from a purely epidemiological view such an approach may be justified, it strips cultural context from these men’s risky sexual behavior. Simultaneously and conversely, clinical professionals may be underestimating the importance of screening for risky behavior among men who report an ostensibly less-than-risky identity. The present article discusses literature on sexual identity and sexual behavior as it pertains to straight-identifying MSM. Themes of wholistic sexuality and social determinants of health are presented as considerable adjuncts to present conceptualizations of the lived experiences of these men. Recommendations are provided for public health researchers and for health clinicians to better integrate the understanding of identity, behavior, and their intersection