LGBTQ+ Youth Marginalized by Sexual Health Education, Study Reveals

A recent survey highlights the lack of LGBTQ+ content in sexual health education for U.S. youth, potentially impacting their decision-making and health outcomes. Experts advocate for more inclusive curricula to better support this vulnerable group.

LGBTQ+ Youth Feel Marginalized by Sexual Health-Education Curricula, Study Finds

CHICAGO, June 14, 2024 — A national, peer-reviewed survey reveals that LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S., aged 13 to 17, feel that their sexual health education lacks vital information on sexual orientation and gender identity, potentially jeopardizing their ability to make informed decisions. The study, led by Erica Szkody, a postdoctoral research associate at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, will be published in The Journal of Sex Research on June 17.

Of the over 800 respondents, most reported a lack of LGBTQ+ content in their sexual health education, driving them to seek information from less reliable sources such as the internet and friends. Participants described being marginalized by curricula often based on abstinence-only approaches or religious principles, which omit critical LGBTQ+ topics.

Experts, including Steven Hobaica from The Trevor Project, stress that inclusive sexual health education could be life-saving and prevent negative health outcomes. The study aims to prompt policymakers to include comprehensive LGBTQ+ content in sexual health curricula to better support this vulnerable group.