Estimating Population Size and Demographic Characteristics of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in Middle School

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health 2013-02, Vol.52 (2), p.248-250
• Main Authors: Shields, John P., Ph.D., M.S.W, Cohen, Rebekah, M.A, Glassman, Jill R., Ph.D., M.S.W, Whitaker, Kelly, M.P.A, Franks, Heather, M.A, Bertolini, Ilsa, M.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Age; Biological and medical sciences; Bisexuality; Bisexuality - ethnology; Bisexuality - statistics & numerical data; Bisexuals; Child; Demography; Developmental psychology; Early adolescence; Ethnic groups; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender; Gender Identity; Homosexuality - ethnology; Homosexuality - statistics & numerical data; Homosexuals; Humans; Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth (LGBT); Male; Middle school; Middle schools; Pediatrics; Population Density; Population number; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; San Francisco - epidemiology; Schools; Sexual orientation; Students - statistics & numerical data; Transsexualism - epidemiology; Transsexualism - ethnology; Transsexuality; Young people; Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.06.016

Abstract Purpose To estimate the size and demographic characteristics of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth populations using data from the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) administered in San Francisco Unified School District middle schools. Methods The YRBS was administered to a stratified random sample of 2,730 youth (grades 6–8) across all 22 public middle schools in San Francisco. Cross-tabulations using complex samples analyses were used to derive population estimates and confidence intervals. Results and conclusions Results show that 3.8% of middle school students identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and 1.3% of middle school students identify as transgender. To improve our understanding of the size of these populations across the nation, researchers conclude it is imperative that all YRBS administration sites include items on sexual orientation and gender identity as they would any other demographic item, such as race/ethnicity, sex, or age. The current lack of reliable data on the size and characteristics of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth population limits the capacity of policy makers, administrators, and practitioners to address their needs.