Gay teens reluctant to come out to doctors

Gay teens reluctant to come out to doctors
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
January 3, 2007.

LOS ANGELES—A survey of lesbian, gay and bisexual teenagers found that 70 percent said most people they knew were aware of their sexual orientation, but only 35 percent reported that their doctor knew, according to a new study released last week by the RAND Corporation and UCLA.

Dr. Garth D. Meckler, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics with the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore., said the survey results surprised researchers because the subjects were interviewed at an empowerment conference for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth.

“We knew that the sample that we chose was going to be a very ‘out’ sample,” Meckler said. “We figured they would have a higher disclosure rate than most youth, and yet, despite being out to almost everyone in their lives, only 35 percent had told their doctor about their sexual orientation.”

The study by RAND—a nonprofit research organization—and UCLA was published in the December issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Researchers surveyed 131 participants at the Models of Pride Youth Conference hosted by a southern California campus in October 2003 for this study. Of those teens whose physician knew their sexual orientation, only 21 percent said their doctor had raised the topic.