Are LGBTQ youth at higher risk for contracting HIV/AIDS?
Young men who have sex with men (MSM) are at higher risk for contracting HIV/AIDS than their heterosexual counterparts. Studies have shown that rates of risky sexual behavior among young MSM are higher than among older MSM and that many young MSM don’t believe they are at risk. • In the 7 cities that participated in the CDC’s Young Men’s Survey during 1994–98, 14% of African-American MSM and 7% of Hispanic MSM ages 15–22 were infected with HIV. • In a recent CDC study of young MSM, 77% of those who tested HIV-positive mistakenly believed that they were not infected. • Of the men who tested positive, most (74%) had previously tested negative for HIV infection, and 59% believed that they were at low or very low risk. • Young black MSM were more likely to be unaware of their infection—approximately 9 of 10 young black MSM were unaware compared with 6 of 10 young white MSM. It is important to note that the CDC counts M to F transgender women as MSM, and that very little research exists on
