What are the LGBTQIA+ Pride Flags?
Click here to learn more about the various LGBTQIA+ Pride Flags.
FAQ Category: Sexual Identity Frequently Asked Questions
What is MSM or M4M? What is On the DL? What is a Bromance? Are They the Same?
MSM or M4M is a term for men who have sex with men, but who do not identify their sexual orientation.
Similar or related terms include, but are not limited to, the following:
- DL or Down Low is a lifestyle predominately practiced by young, urban Black men who have sex with other men and women, yet do not identify as gay or bisexual. (Study published in the Journal of Bisexuality).
- Bromance reflects the need to be emotionally close to another person, but without the need to be commited to a romantic relationship. Erikson described the psychosocial developmental stage faced in young adulthood as Intimacy vs. Isolation. He focused more on the role that romantic relationships played in life during this period, but as this new Millennial Gen playbook has illustrated, a wife and kids can wait — close male friends are able to provide the intimate connections and emotional support that are needed. (“Bromance and Tribe Identity,” Psychology Today)
Won’t bisexuals just decide to be straight when the going gets tough?
No, bisexuality is a true sexual identity. The label “bisexual” is often replaced by the more modern “pansexual.”
Please note “bisexual” does not mean “questioning” or vice versa.
If you are transgender, agender, gender fluid, or gender neutral, what does it mean to be gay?
If you are one of these, to be gay means you are attracted to the same gender identity as yourself. Conversely, it means you are not attracted to a different gender.
The answer is different for every person of these identities–some use it as an umbrella term and some base the name of their sexuality on the sex they were assigned.