A study comparing 59 HIV-positive male-to-female (MTF) transgender persons with a control group of 300 non-transgender HIV positive persons found that fewer in the MTF sample were receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Only 59% of the MTF sample reported current use of HAART compared with 82% of the control group. Continue reading →

A review of questionnaires fielded by states in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) revealed that twenty-five states and the District of Columbia included at least one item measuring a dimension of sexual orientation at some point during the period between 1995-2011. Continue reading →

An analysis of population-based data in Oregon revealed that living in environments that are less supportive of gays and lesbians is associated with greater suicide attempts among LGB youth. Consistent with previous research demonstrating a higher risk of suicide attempts in LGB youth, the study also found that Oregon LGB teens were significantly more likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months, compared with heterosexuals (21.5% vs 4.2%) Continue reading →

While the number of publications in LGBT health indexed in PubMed has increased considerably over the last two decades, growth of the percent of LGBT-related publications in relation to the total number of research publications has been much slower and more uneven. Continue reading →

Sexual minority adolescents are at disproportionate risk for using drugs. A recent analysis of a large community-based cohort of U.S. adolescents aged 12-23 revealed that bisexual youth and youth identifying as “mostly heterosexual” were at particularly high risk for using illicit drugs other than marijuana in the past year. Continue reading →

An analysis comparing gay/lesbian and bisexual survey respondents in Massachusetts to heterosexual counterparts found that gays, lesbians and bisexuals were more than twice as likely to be current smokers (Gay/lesbian OR=2.33, Gay men OR=2.42, Lesbian OR=2.20; Bisexual OR=2.65, Bisexual men OR=2.03, Bisexual women OR=3.00). Continue reading →

An analysis comparing gay/lesbian and bisexual survey respondents in Massachusetts to heterosexual counterparts found that gays, lesbians and bisexuals were more than twice as likely to be current smokers (Gay/lesbian OR=2.33, Gay men OR=2.42, Lesbian OR=2.20; Bisexual OR=2.65, Bisexual men OR=2.03, Bisexual women OR=3.00). Continue reading →

Recent evidence suggests that men who have sex with men (MSM) are initiating anal intercourse at earlier ages. A Swiss study reveled that the mean age at first anal intercourse fell from 24.5 years among men born before 1965 to 20.0 years among men born between 1975 and 1984. The study also found that younger cohorts of MSM have been initiating anal intercourse with increasingly older partners. Continue reading →

Confirming results of several other studies, this recent study showed that gay/bisexual men have significantly higher symptoms indicative of eating disorders as compared to heterosexual men. In this study, no significant differences were observed between rates of eating disorders in lesbian/bisexual women and heterosexual women, or between diverse ethnic minorities. Continue reading →

A recent analysis of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a large, population-based epidemiological survey of U.S. adults, showed a relationship between state-level policies that protect lesbian, gays and bisexuals (LGBs) from discrimination and hate crimes and the mental health of LGB populations. Continue reading →