Promoting Positive Development of LGBT Youth

Research on child development shows that children’s sexual identity generally develops during early adolescence. Generally, by age 10 or 11, youth are aware of their lesbian, gay, or bisexual sexual orientation. Research indicates that in the United States, approximately 5 to 10% of youth openly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). This brief reviews the research on the psychosocial outcomes that are associated with identifying as an LGBT young person, and identify factors that place LGBT youth at greater risk or provide protection against these psychosocial outcomes.