This editorial describes the barriers that exist to carrying out research with gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth. It also discusses why it is important to promote research to this group. Describes the articles that address some of the issues related to this population in this volume of the Journal of Adolescence. (MKA)

Part of a special section on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. An annotated bibliography for the special section containing online materials, books, and articles from journals is provided. (GCP)

Suggests that the most effective way to help gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths in out-of-home care is to provide the same types of supports and services that all adolescents need. Explores a model, organized around five core premises that define the principles and practices of a positive youth development approach, for supporting development of…

Assesses the current sexual health status of Canadian youth in relation to sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy rates, and sexual practices, discussing the social and historical context of adolescence and adolescent sexuality in Canada. The paper draws insights from international comparisons of adolescent sexual health indicators and discusses…

Claims that meeting the health care needs of homosexual and bisexual teenagers has become public health imperative. Points out stigma of homosexuality often gives rise to psychosocial problems for teenagers in process of sexual identity development. Offers suggestions to support healthy development, assist recovery from stigma, and avert…

Scientists should reconsider traditional empirical and theoretical paradigms that narrowly define sexual-minority adolescents in terms of those who adopt a culturally defined sexual identity label such as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. This will lead to a different understanding of sexual-minority youths than is apparent in most published studies.…

Seven essays by youths ages 14-18 describe their experiences of pain, alienation, and secrecy as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. (SK)

This study of 1,001 adult homosexual and bisexual men found that 37% reported they had been encouraged or forced to have sexual contact with an older or more powerful partner before age 19. Median age at first contact was 10. Ninety-three percent of participants reporting early sexual contact were classified as sexually abused. (Author/DB)

Discusses bisexual modes of behavior in light of current attitudes within the youth culture and with the realization that on the basis of abailable research, generalization is difficult. Changing sex role values are discussed and some causative factors are placed in the context of current social trends. (Author/BW)

Reviews the research indicating the incidence rates and specific suicide risks for suicide in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning (GLBQ) adolescent population. Presents an ecological model of suicide risk assessment for GLBQ youth. The model is based on Bronfenbrenner's model of human development and argues for individual, micro, and macro…

The prevalence of suicidality among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth is considerably higher than the reported rates for heterosexual youth. The strongest predictors for suicidality among all youth are substance abuse; victimization; social isolation; and exposure to suicide attempts or completion among family members. Homosexual and bisexual youth…

Proposes visibility management as a key construct in gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) identity development. Visibility management refers to the dynamic, ongoing process by which GLB youth make careful, planned decisions about whether they will disclose their sexual orientation, to whom and how they disclose, and how they continue to monitor the…

In contrast to attempted suicide rates of 9-12% among adolescents in community-based studies, attempted suicide was reported by 39% of 138 self-identified gay and bisexual adolescent males presenting in a social service agency for lesbian and gay adolescents. Findings suggest that gay youths are at increased risk for attempting suicide. (TJQ)

Investigates risk factors associated with internalizing and externalizing problems among 169 gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents. Data were gathered on individual, family, and community risk factors and youths' mental health and behavioral functioning. Results suggest that adolescents should be carefully assessed for concerns related and not…

Studies indicate that substance abuse is a growing problem among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Prevention and intervention efforts can be successful in working with sexual minority adolescents in jeopardy of developing substance abuse problems. School psychologists are uniquely poised to address this problem through…