'Men who have sex with men' originated during the HIV pandemic to focus on behavior rather than identity – but not everyone thinks the term helps

The term ‘MSM’ allows public health interventions to gloss over the social, political and cultural complexities of identity. But it’s not without its limitations.

JaNelle Ricks, Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, The Ohio State University • conversation
Sept. 22, 2022 • ~7 min

Patient zero: why it's such a toxic term

Why we should wash our hands of this unhealthy phrase.

Richard McKay, Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge • conversation
April 1, 2020 • ~23 min

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