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from Ethical Issues
Pediatrics Group Urges
Pro-Gay Counseling for Teenagers
July 9, 2004 - The June, 2004, issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of
Pediatrics, has published "Sexual Orientation and Adolescents," by Dr. Barbara
L. Frankowski, a member of the AAP's Committee on Adolescence.
Dr. Frankowski urges pediatricians to provide positive counseling for teenagers
who believe they are homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered. She states that
"human sexual orientation most likely exists as a continuum from solely
heterosexual to solely homosexual."
Sexual orientation, says Frankowski, is determined by a combination of genetic,
hormonal, and environmental influences and is developed early in life.
The author notes that non-heterosexual youth have higher suicide rates, higher
HIV infection rates, and more substance abuse problems. These negatives
associated with gay life, she states--without offering supporting evidence for
her claim-- are not "attributable to homosexual per se."
Gays experience stigmatization for their gender nonconformity, as well as
"stress, violence, lack of support, dropping out school, family problems,
acquaintances' suicide attempts, homelessness, and substance abuse."
Dr. Frankowski urges pediatricians to use gender-neutral language when
discussing sexual orientation with non-heterosexual teens, and to display
posters, brochures, and information on office bulletin boards that demonstrate
the doctors' support for alternative expressions of sexuality.
Pediatricians are also urged to encourage abstinence, discourage multiple sex
partners, and to provide safer-sex guidelines for all adolescents. She also
suggests that pediatricians become community activists to help promote awareness
about the unique problems of non-heterosexual youth.
Updated: 8 February 2008
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