Preventing sexual risk behaviors among gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents: the benefits of gay-sensitive HIV instruction in schools.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared sexual risk behaviors of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) and heterosexual adolescents and evaluated associations between gay-sensitive HIV instruction and risk behaviors of GLB youths.


METHODS
A random sample of high school students and HIV education teachers completed surveys. Self-reported risk behaviors of heterosexual and GLB adolescents were compared, with control for student and community demographic characteristics. Sexual risk behaviors of GLB youths in schools with and without gay-sensitive instruction were compared.


RESULTS
GLB youths reported more substance use, high-risk sexual behaviors, suicidal thoughts or attempts, and personal safety issues than did heterosexual youths (P < .001). Among those who were sexually active, GLB youths reported more lifetime and recent sexual partners than did heterosexuals (P < .001), and more of them reported alcohol use before last sex (P < .01) and a history of pregnancy (P < .001). GLB youths in schools with gay-sensitive instruction reported fewer sexual partners, less recent sex, and less substance use before last sex than did GLB youths in other schools (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings document increased risk behaviors among GLB youths and demonstrate the potential benefits of providing gay-sensitive HIV instruction in schools.
Blake
S M
SM
George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2175 K St, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037, USA. smblake1@aol.com
Ledsky
R
R
Lehman
T
T
Goodenow
C
C
Sawyer
R
R
Hack
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012574:Schools; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology