Latest health disparity report examines trend of higher tobacco use among LGBT community

American Lung AssociationJul 1 2010

The American Lung Association's latest health disparity report, Smoking Out a Deadly Threat: Tobacco Use in the LGBT Community, examines the trend of higher tobacco use among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the need for additional research specific to this community.

Most state and national health surveys do not collect information on sexual orientation and gender identity; however, there are current data indicating the LGBT population smokes at a higher rate than the general public. Key facts regarding this disparity include the following:

• Gay, bisexual and transgender men are 2.0 to 2.5 times more likely to smoke than heterosexual men.
• Lesbian, bisexual and transgender women are 1.5 to 2.0 times more likely to smoke than heterosexual women.
• Bisexual boys and girls have some of the highest smoking rates when compared with both their heterosexual and homosexual peers.

"The American Lung Association issued Smoking Out a Deadly Threat: Tobacco Use in the LGBT Community to raise awareness of this health disparity and address the need for additional research specific to the LGBT community and tobacco use," said Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO.  "Like other groups disproportionately affected by tobacco use, including African Americans and Native Americans, the LGBT population needs targeted efforts to reduce smoking rates, which will ultimately save lives."

The Lung Association's report presents a compilation of research that examines possible contributing factors to the LGBT smoking rate including stress and discrimination related to homophobia, the tobacco industry's targeted marketing to LGBT consumers, and lack of access to culturally appropriate tobacco treatment programs.

"The Lung Association is committed to preventing tobacco use and reducing smoking rates among the LGBT community," Connor continued. "Understanding and eliminating this disparity will take a concerted group effort from the healthcare industry, governments, LGBT advocacy organizations and individuals."

The American Lung Association is calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and all state Departments of Health to include sexual orientation and gender identity questions in public health surveys.  State and local tobacco control programs should work to ensure prevention and cessation programs, materials and staff are culturally competent and inclusive of the LGBT community. LGBT advocacy organizations should advocate for policies to promote tobacco prevention and cessation programs, and identify alternative funding sources to tobacco industry sponsorship.