Constructing the Heterosexual, Homosexual, Bisexual System, by Jonathan Ned Katz

This feature explores the human production of the terms and concepts "heterosexual," "homosexual," and "bisexual," which are presented here as evidence of the construction of a historically specific social order or regime. This is the social-historical institution or system that divides people, identities, desires, acts, relationships, and groups into heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual with profound subjective, objective, psychological, social consequences. The chronology includes scholarly works dating to the 1980s, when historians began to develop what is now called "critical heterosexual history," analysis that interrogates the historically specific discourses and institutions that comprise the hetero, homo, bi system. First published on OutHistory in 2014. Last edit: April 15, 2021.

1902, February 15: James G. Kiernan: "heterosexual" and "homosexual"

The words "heterosexual" and "homosexual" appear in a medical journal article on "Heredity" by Dr. James G. Kiernan. He says:

"The psychic phase of instincts so fundamental as the reproductive instinct may appear even when there is congenital absence or rudimentary development of organs upon which its expression depends."[1]

Kiernan then adds a statement using the new terms:

Psycho-sexual manifestations may remain indifferent until adolescence, may be of homosexual type (the same sex), or may be of heterosexual type (opposite sex), or may be hermaphrodidic (both sexes).[2]

Here, homosexual, heterosexual, and hermaphrodidic refer to psychological and sexual "instincts" (desires or feelings) distinguished on the basis of the "sex" of the persons involved in a relationship.

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Notes
1 A Note 17 attributes that comment to Clara Barrus, American Journal of Insanity, 1894-95. RESEARCH REQUEST: Who was Barrus? Wasn't she close to Walt Whitman?

2 James G. Kiernan, "Heredity," Medical News (New York), February 15, 1902, Vol. 80, Issue 7; pg. 291-99.