LGBTQA

Know the Facts

If you are part of the LGBT communities, you likely have seen tobacco ads in magazines, newspapers, and Web sites directed at you. Tobacco companies are targeting your communities.

Smoking among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States is much higher than among heterosexual/straight adults. About 1 in 5 (20.6%) lesbian, gay, or bisexual adults smokes cigarettes compared with roughly about 1 in 7 (14.9%) heterosexual/straight adults.*

Cigarette smoking is also higher among transgender adults (35.5%), than among adults whose gender identity corresponds with their birth sex (cisgender).†

Smoking increases your risk for lung cancer, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, and other smoking-related diseases.



Video provided from This Free Life.

Sources for cigarette smoking prevalence:

* Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2005–2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2016.

Transgender Use of Cigarettes, Cigars, and E-Cigarettes in a National Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, [e-pub 2017 Jan 13].

Real Stories: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People Featured in Tips®

Learn the real stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people who are suffering from smoking-related diseases and disabilities.


Meet Brian


Brian, age 45, lives in California and has HIV. At 14, he started smoking. At 43, smoking, combined with HIV, caused him to have a stroke. He quit that day and hopes to regain full use of his right hand.


Meet Ellie


Ellie, age 57, lives in Florida and never smoked. At 35, she started having asthma attacks triggered from breathing secondhand smoke at work. The severe attacks forced her to leave a job she loved.


Meet Rose


Rose lived in Texas and began smoking at age 13. She developed lung cancer that later spread to her brain. After many, many treatments, Rose died in January 2015. She was 60.

Learn more about all Tips participants in the CDC  Real Stories section.

Additional LGBTQA organizations that Tobacco Free Adagio Health Supports:
 
 

Find Contacts in Your Area

The Southwest PA Wellness Partners is a multi-county effort created to address the diverse issue of tobacco use in the southwestern health district of Pennsylvania.

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