why does this matter?
LGBTQ+ community members face many daily stressors, and tobacco use might seem like a way to cope. Maybe, tobacco use doesn’t seem as bad as other problems.
But the facts are that LGBTQ+ community members are more likely to use tobacco products than non-LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those who are Black and/or Latine. The tobacco industry has a history of targeting these communities, putting them at greater risk of harm from tobacco. Tobacco is harmful, no matter when someone starts, how much they use, and what the product.
Organizations like yours can help by sharing tobacco-related education and anti-tobacco information with LGBTQ+ community members. We are developing anti-tobacco messages with LGBTQ+ community members that organizations can share with Black and Latine youth and young adults.
we learned…
In our research, we learned that these challenges are even more severe for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults who are Black and/or Latine.
“…I would say we have higher rates of substance use, and I’ll also say that we are being rejected and bullied and also depressed.”
[18-24 yrs., currently using tobacco]
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UMD-PRC Community Needs Assessment
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Big Tobacco Targets the LGBTQ+ Community
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Data: Queer Tobacco Use by the Numbers