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.

1934: Merriam-Webster's New International Dictionary: "heterosexuality" & "homosexuality"

In 1934 "heterosexuality" appears in Webster's hefty Second Edition Unabridged, defined in what in 2015 is still the dominant modern mode. In 1934 "heterosexuality" is a "manifistation of sexual passion for one of the opposite sex; normal sexuality." Heterosexuality has finally attained the status of norm.

In the same 1934 Webster's, "homosexuality" has changed as well. It's simply "eroticism for one of the same sex." Both terms medical origins are no longer cited. Heterosexuality and homosexuality have settled into standard English.

Note
Jonathan Ned Katz, The Invention of Heterosexuality (NY: Penguin Group/Dutton, 1995), page 92.