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Pediatricians and Gay and Lesbian Youth

The Epidemiology of Adolescent Homosexuality

PREVALENCE

Sexual orientation refers to an individual's pattern of physical and emotional arousal toward other persons. It is not synonymous with gender identity (the knowledge of being male or female) or gender role (outward expression of maleness or femaleness). Gender identity and gender role generally are defined by anatomic and chromosomal gender in both heterosexual and homosexual individuals. Sexual orientation also is not synonymous with sexual activity; many homosexual individuals, especially during adolescence, participate in heterosexual behavior and relationships,^1,2 and many adults who identify themselves as heterosexual report homosexual activity during adolescence.^3-5

It is difficult to know with certainty the number of people who identify themselves as exclusively or predominantly homosexual. It is more difficult still to estimate the number who have questions about their sexual orientation during adolescence because of the well-known fluidity and complexity of sexual attractions and activities during this period. The original Kinsey study of sexuality reported that from puberty to age 20, 28% of boys and 17% of girls had one or more homosexual experiences. The same survey reported that 37% of adults have had homosexual experiences and that 10% consider themselves to be predominantly homosexual.^3,4 In a somewhat more recent cross-sectional study of 13- to 19-year-olds, 11% of boys and 6% of girls reported at least one homosexual experience, with 17% of boys aged 16 to 19 reporting such activities.⁶

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. D. Meckler, M. N. Elliott, D. E. Kanouse, K. P. Beals, and M. A. Schuster Nondisclosure of Sexual Orientation to a Physician Among a Sample of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, December 1, 2006; 160(12): 1248 - 1254. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Frankowski and and Committee on Adolescence Sexual Orientation and Adolescents Pediatrics, June 1, 2004; 113(6): 1827 - 1832. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]