What is in a label? Multiple meanings of ‘MSM’ among same-gender-loving Black men in Mississippi

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and other same-gender-loving men continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS, particularly among the Black population. Innovative strategies are needed to support the health of this community; however, public health efforts primarily approach MSM as a monolithic population erasing the diverse identities, practices, and sexualities within and beyond this category. To better understand diversity within MSM in a geographic region with the largest proportion of Black Americans in the U.S. and among the most heavily affected by the epidemic, the Deep South, we conducted four focus groups (n=29) with Black men who reported having sex with other men residing in Jackson, Mississippi. Results suggest multiple overlapping usages of MSM as identity and behavior, reflecting internalization of behavioral categories and co-creation of identities unique to the Black community. These narratives contribute to the literature by documenting the evolving understandings of the category ‘MSM’ among Black men to reflect intersections between race, socioeconomic status, sexual behavior, sexuality, subjectivities, and social context. Findings suggest the current monolithic approach to treating MSM may limit public health efforts in developing effective HIV prevention and promotion programs targeting same-gender-loving Black men in the Deep South.

"We don’t treat your kind": Assessing HIV health needs holistically among transgender people in Jackson, Mississippi

“…[ 22 , 36 , 37 ] Particularly relevant in the context of Mississippi where close to 40% of residents are Black, [ 38 ] race and gender identity must be considered as key social factors individually and jointly to assess how multiple cumulative minority statuses impact health. Frameworks such as the theory of intersectionality [ 39 ] and its applications to understandings of sexual and gender diversity in the Deep South [ 40 ] are may provide utility for work furthering how various social factors intersect to constitute inequality and vulnerability.…”

Multiple minority stress: The role of proximal and distal stress on mental health outcomes among lesbian, gay, and bisexual people of color

“…Participants were recruited into the study on the basis of identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people of color. However, literature suggests that this language may not have resonated with people who use alternative labels or behavioral categories in place of LGB labels, such as "men who have sex with men" (MSM) or "same gender loving" (SGI), two labels which have been associated with the black male and female communities (Lassiter, 2014;Truong, Perez-Brumer, Burton, Gipson, J., & Hickson, 2016). The latter term is used both colloquially and in research as a culturally-affirmative alternative to Caucasian-based terms like "lesbian" and "gay" for the African diaspora (What is BMX?, 2014).…”

Attitude shifts and knowledge gains: Evaluating men who have sex with men sensitisation training for healthcare workers in the Western Cape, South Africa

“…homosexual or heterosexual). 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 In South Africa, MSM have a range of gender expressions, gender identities and sexual practices. Moreover, certain characteristics (including gender expression and sexual practices) may change over time (e.g.…”