Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts, and Health-Risk Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9?12 ? Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, Selected Sites, United States, 2001?2009

Sexual minority youths are youths who identify themselves as gay or lesbian, bisexual, or unsure of their sexual identity or youths who have only had sexual contact with persons of the same sex or with both sexes. Population-based data on the healthrisk behaviors practiced by sexual minority youths are needed at the state and local levels to most effectively monitor and ensure the effectiveness of public health interventions designed to address the needs of this population.