Smoking in the LGBT Community

Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, accounting for 480,000 premature deaths per year. The tobacco industry has a long history of targeting Black and LGBTQ+ communities with advertising initiatives like Project SCUM, specifically promoting menthol cigarettes within these communities, giving financial contributions to Black groups and political leaders, and sponsoring LGBTQ+ events like Pride celebrations throughout the country.

The Arcila-Adams Trans Resource Center, at the William Way LGBT Center, sat down with three current smokers of Black LGBTQ+ experience to learn about their history with cigarette use and their perspectives on the current culture around quitting. This is an excerpt from the discussion. The Center will host a virtual screening of the entire discussion on September 30th, more details coming soon.

If you or anyone you know would like resources to help stop smoking or vaping, please call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, Pennsylvania’s free tobacco quitline.

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