Understanding and Challenging Stigma toward ... - Pact Cambodia

Understanding
MSM
Sexual orientation: Whether one is emotionally and sexually attracted to
members of the same sex or the opposite sex. Three sexual orientations are
commonly recognized:
homosexual (gay or lesbian)
heterosexual or
bisexual. While scientific studies have shown that an individual cannot
change his or her sexual orientation at will, sexual orientation might change
throughout a person’s lifetime. So an individual’s sexual orientation can
move along the continuum as time passes.
Heterosexual: Someone who is emotionally and sexually attracted to a person
of the opposite sex.
Homosexual: Someone who is emotionally and sexually attracted to a person
of the same sex. Homosexuals include gay men and lesbians. The term
“homosexual” is an academic term and is generally not accepted by gay people
as it is associated with abnormality.
Bisexual: Someone who is emotionally and sexually attracted to men and
women.
Sexual behavior: Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior because it
refers to feelings and self concept. People may or may not express their sexual
orientation in their behaviors.
Men who have sex with men (MSM): MSM is a behavioral term used to
refer to biological males who have sex with biological males. The term does not
imply that MSM necessarily have a sense of identity based on the fact that they have
sex with other men, although some MSM do have such an identity. The term MSM is
used to include transgender MSM who may not self-identify as men. MSM may
also have sex with women, in addition to having sex with men. Some MSM may
temporarily have sex with men due to circumstances, such as being confined to a
facility (e.g., prison) or a period of separation from the opposite sex (i.e., during
military training).
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