Table 1.

Recommended sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) questions during the clinical encounter

Clinician introduction: “I am going to ask you some questions that I ask all patients your age, because it helps me provide you the best care possible.” If patient is alone without parents/guardians and the law permits: “I will not share this information with your parents/guardians or anyone else unless you give me permission to.”

Gender identity questions (3–13 years)

“Some kids feel like a girl on the inside, some kids feel like a boy on the inside, and some kids feel like neither, both, or someone else. What about you? How do you feel on the inside? There’s no right or wrong answer.”

If you do not know the patient’s sex assigned at birth:

“What sex were you (was your child) assigned at birth? Girl or boy, or another sex?”

Gender identity questions (14–17 years)

“What is your current gender identity? Some teens feel like a girl or woman on the inside, some feel like a boy or man on the inside, and some feel like neither, both, or another gender. What about you? There’s no right or wrong answer.”

If you do not know the patient’s sex assigned at birth:

“What sex were you assigned at birth? Female, male, or another sex?”

Sexual orientation questions (10–13 years)

“Have you ever had a crush on someone?”

If yes: “Was this crush on a boy, a girl, both, or someone of another gender?”

Sexual orientation questions (14–17 years)

“Are you sexually attracted to boys, girls, both, neither, another gender, or are you not sure?”