The purpose of this study was to describe HIV risk behavior among runaway youth in San Francisco by age at onset and sexual orientation. Participants were a cross-sectional sample (N = 334) of male and female youth aged 12 to 21 years seeking health care at two clinics serving runaway youth. Gay/lesbian/bisexual youth reported higher levels and earlier onset of sexual and drug-using behavior compared with their heterosexual counterparts. Gay/lesbian/bisexual youth in this sample are at exceptionally high risk for HIV infection.
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