What About Gay Teenagers?

Abstract

Sir .—We read with great interest and careful attention the two articles 1,2 that appeared in the June issue of AJDC highlighting preventive aspects of pediatric injury, including suicide. Both of these well-written and researched reports placed great emphasis on the preventability of injury, as well as intervention strategies and suggestions for further research. Indeed, such emphasis is a most significant aspect of pediatric and adolescent medical practice, and much of our office time is devoted to the education of children, teenagers, and their parents. During our study of these articles, we found the omission of a most important topic, one that brings into focus the existence of the gay (homosexual) teenager. Although adolescent suicide, including the causes and suggestions for prevention, is discussed, the gay adolescent was not mentioned. Gay teenagers most certainly exist. At least 10% of our country's population is gay, and there are approximately 2.9 million