A study exploring the relationship between health risk behaviors
of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth and the religious
environment of their communities found that the religious
climate in which LGB youths live can determine their health risk
behaviors. The authors collected data on 31,852 high school
students (including 1,413 LGB students) who participated in the
Oregon Healthy Teens survey from 2006–2008, and used U.S. census
information on religious adherents for 85 denominational groups
in 34 Oregon counties. The authors examined denominational
websites, doctrinal statements and resolutions for stances on
homosexuality, and determined whether denominations blessed
same-sex unions or ordained gay clergy. The authors examined
possible confounding variables in community climate, such as the
proportion of same-sex partner households. LGB youths living in
counties with supportive religious climates had fewer alcohol
abuse symptoms and sexual partners than LGB youths in counties
with unsupportive religious