Survey says. (reader forum).

Speaking on behalf of the research team that conducted the National LGBT College Student Survey, we are disappointed with how the investigation was represented in your "Suicidal Gender Divide" article [February 18]. As presented at the "peer-reviewed" American Public Health Association conference as well as to The Advocate, the purpose of this national survey was to examine both the health risk behaviors and positive assets reported among self-identified LGBT college students. Results presented at APHA were the very first released from the study and are only one small part of a much larger investigation. In fact, results discussing students' participation in academic clubs, athletics, the arts, employment, and the LGBT community are forthcoming. To say that the "motivation behind these studies is to prove that gay men and lesbians are oppressed" couldn't be further from the truth.

Furthermore, as presented at APHA and to The Advocate, 24 of 233 female (10.3%) and nine of 216 male (4.2%) LGBT college students reported attempting suicide in the past 12 months. The media, including this publication, are responsible for misrepresenting and overgeneralizing these findings. However, even if these 33 students were the only ones out of all 927 respondents to report attempting suicide in the past year, this is still 3.6% of the sample and more than twice the percentage (1.5%) reported among a national sample of the general college student population. To discount these findings, even within the limitations of this investigation, is to ignore the needs of these young people.

Lastly, being newly reported, these research findings have not yet had the opportunity to be considered for publication in professional peer-reviewed journals. The research team is currently preparing manuscripts for consideration. As researchers, we certainly expect and welcome critical analysis of the investigation. However, to refer to the study as "bad science" and to have other researchers comment without having seen anything regarding its methodology or results is, quite honestly, "bad journalism."

Lisa Lindley, Bowling Green, Ky.