Promoting the successful development of sexual and gender minority youths

Because of societal discomfort with atypical expressions of sexual orientation and gender identity, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youths have experienced enhanced developmental challenges compared with their heterosexual peers. A recent special issue of the American Journal of Public Health delineated how social stigma affecting LGBT youths has resulted inawide range of health disparities, ranging from increased prevalenceofdepressionandsubstance use to downstream effects, such as an increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular diseasewhen older. We review the clinical significance of these findings for health care professionals, whoneedtobecomeinformed about these associations to provide better care for their sexual and gender minority youth patients, and to be able to educate their parents and other caregivers.