Sexual minority status, religiosity, and suicidal behaviors among college students in the United States

•Sexual minority status was associated with greater odds of having suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and suicide attempts over the past year.•Importance of religion was associated with lower odds of having suicidal ideation and suicide plans, but was not associated with suicide attempts.•The importance of religion was more strongly protective against suicidal ideation and making suicide plans for heterosexual students than sexual minority students.•The protective effects of importance of religion were conditional on religious affiliation.