Rethinking Gender Identities and Sexual Orientation: The Multidimensional Gender and Sexuality Inventory (MGSI)

Abstract The traditional binary understanding of gender identities and sexual orientation, though long standard in both society and research, oversimplifies the true complexity of these concepts. Grounded in Tate’s five-part understanding of gender according to the BIRDS framework: Biology, Identity, Roles, Displays and Sentiment, we develop the Multidimensional Gender and Sexuality Inventory (MGSI) which moves beyond binary categories to reflect fluid, non-normative identities and experiences. The MGSI is based on five well-established, multi-item scales: the Multi-Gender Identity Questionnaire, the Sexual Orientation Questionnaire, the Transgender Congruence Scale, the Open Sex Role Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Discrimination. The MGSI was developed using exploratory factor analysis on data from 1,305 gender-diverse U.S. participants. It offers an adaptable, customizable format that lets researchers select dimensions that match their research focus—be it gender identity, sexual orientation, or experiences of discrimination—offering them a comprehensive and flexible tool for investigating gender and sexuality in diverse contexts.