Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) titled Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts, and Health-Related Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9–12 — United States and Selected Sites, 2015, which is the first national study of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) high school students. In this report, the many health risk factors experienced by young people who identify as LGB are outlined and show that these students report significantly higher levels of physical and sexual violence and bullying. In addition, these students are more likely to report lower condom use, earlier sexual initiation, and a higher number of sex partners than their heterosexual peers.

LGB youth are three times more likely to report sexual or physical dating violence, being forced to have sex, and being bullied at school or online, compared to their heterosexual peers.  Over half (60 percent) of the nearly 1.3 million LGB students surveyed report feelings of depression and are twice as likely as heterosexual students to miss school because they feel unsafe.

“These data show that LGB young people are in environments where they experience high levels of violence and feel unsafe,” stated William Smith, Executive Director of the National Coalition of STD Directors.  “That reality can lead to other health risk factors and behaviors that, unfortunately, may increase the risk of HIV and STD acquisition.”

In addition, LGB students were more likely to have ever had sexual intercourse and to be currently sexually active, less likely to report use of a condom at last sex, and twice as likely to report they had had sexual intercourse before the age of 13.  It is known through other research that these risk factors, coupled with a lack of protective factors such as supportive school or home environments, can lead to increased risk behaviors.

“These data should be a call to action for all those who work with young people to create more LGB-inclusive programs and outreach,” continued Smith.  “This includes LGB-inclusive sexual health education curriculum in schools, LGB-friendly health care services, and the creation of LGB-friendly spaces staffed with trained, visible allies.  These actions will create safe and supportive environments for LGB youth that can help counteract the negative risk factors that they face on a daily basis.  We have the opportunity to strengthen the connections between schools and communities, which are key to protecting the health of these LGB young people,” concluded Smith.

The full MMWR outlining this data can be found here, which also includes tables broken down by state and large urban school districts.  This first nationally representative data on a wide range of risks among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students was made possible by adding questions to national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) that monitors six types of health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults and is housed within the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) at the CDC.  NCSD is funded by DASH to work with state education agencies on facilitating access to sexual health services for young people—including culturally fluent referrals for LGBTQ youth as a population at disproportionate risk for HIV and other STDs.

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The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) is a partnership of public health professionals dedicated to promoting sexual health through the prevention of STDs. NCSD provides dynamic leadership that strengthens STD Programs by advocating for effective policies, strategies,and sufficient resources by increasing awareness of the medical and social impacts of STDs. For more information, visit www.NCSDDC.org.