Why Do LGBT People Smoke Up to 200 Percent More than Straight People?

Published January 21, 2009 @ 07:24AM PT

So we're a little more than three weeks into the New Year, and we imagine that a number of folks have "quit smoking" as one of their top resolutions for 2009. (Including, perhaps, our 44th President?) And though more and more locations are placing a ban on public smoking, cigarettes remain quite popular in LGBT circles.

That's according to the National LGBT Tobacco Control Network, which estimates that LGBT people smoke anywhere from 35 to 200 percent more cigarettes than straight people. Further, the group estimates that between 35-40 percent of LGBT people smoke nationwide.

Why is that?

Karyn Haney, the openly lesbian project coordinator for Chicago's Howard Brown Health Center’s “It’s a Bitch to Quit” program, has a theory.

"“People..aren’t necessarily saying 'I’m smoking because I’m gay.' But there are stressors that push the LGBT numbers higher,” she said. Stressors are certainly one complication, as using smoking as a coping mechanism to deal with social isolation and lack of acceptance is a pretty common phenomenon. There's also the social element of smoking.

But could cigarette companies be to blame? Perhaps, says the National LGBT Tobacco Control Network. "[Tobacco companies] have been telling us how they support us, [while] not actually supporting us. The tobacco industry has played us like a violin by framing advertising messages like civil rights messages."

Are they right? Have tobacco companies reaped benefits from framing their advertising under the banner of civil rights? When Benson & Hedges unveiled a new cigarette in 1992, they solely marketed it in gay publications first, including Genre. Here's what a spokesman for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Center said at the time about the ad: "It makes sense for Madison Avenue to target our community," said David Smith, spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Community Service Center in Los Angeles. "There is a sizable chunk of dollars that we spend and those companies are starting to acknowledge our existence. The right wing has actively tried to undermine our civil liberties by keeping us invisible and this acknowledgement is a problem for their agenda. The ad in Genre sends a positive message."

The American Cancer Society estimates that 30,000 LGBT people die each year from smoking. The New York Times has said that the LGBT community has the highest rate of smoking of any minority population. Given those alarming facts, is it really a good thing to have tobacco companies financially supporting the LGBT community, or is the catch-22 too much of a sacrifice?

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Comments (7)

My spouse stopped smoking in the eighties when cigarettes were expensive, and his addiction to Canadian brands made his habit more expensive in the States.

For me, it took what is euphemistically called a "myocardial infarction". My last cigarette was five minutes before my heart attack and subsequent quadruple cardiac arterial bypass graft in
2003.

I suspect that the closet had a smoking section, too.!!
Needless to add, our little guy and my cessation are both six years old. When I succumbed and am now in remission for Hodgkin's, I was happy that this habit was in my past.

Posted by A B on 01/21/2009 @ 07:38AM PT
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I was just reading an essay at Feministing the other day about how the stress experienced by people living under webs of oppression can lead to increased substance abuse as a form of self-medication.

http://community.feministing.com/2009/01/complications-of-alcoholism.html

While it's tragic, I don't find it very surprising that people who don't fit in and aren't easily accepted for themselves end up feeling more of a need to take the edge off, no matter what the reason for their disconnect with mainstream living.

Posted by Natasha Chart on 01/21/2009 @ 08:15AM PT
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At my christian church camp they told us smoking makes you gay to deter any unnatuaral thoughts, were they actualy factual?

just kidding probably the stress, You all should try the reefer it is much healthier!

Posted by rev baker aka rev420 on 01/22/2009 @ 07:43AM PT
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Umm... "reefer" isn't healthier... it's just used less, because you don't have to smoke a pack-a-day to get high. Marijuana actually contains more tar and more carcinogens than cigarettes, and that's compared to cigarettes WITH additives. If you smoke marijuana as much as tobacco, I imagine that it would deter your health exponentially.

Posted by s. mott on 06/28/2009 @ 06:35AM PT
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I've noticed this too. It makes perfect sense - "social isolation," "lack of acceptance." Anywhere you find oppressed people, you will subsequently find higher levels of substance abuse and addiction. I've heard anti-gay pundits refer to these higher levels as proof that the LGBT community is immoral/hedonistic, which makes me so sick. They are clearly choosing to ignore the REASONS WHY this occurs. It occurs in all minority communities, and it is not hedonism. It is a symptom of institutionalized intolerance and prejudice.

Rev Baker - Haha that's a good point, cannabis is definitely a healthier option.

Posted by D W on 01/23/2009 @ 07:44PM PT
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LGBT substance abuse? hedonistic?

To me they are mutually exclusive. My abuse substances of choice are Dove and Trader Joe's dark chocolate, Hellmans mayo, Krema peanut butter, the "bark" (100% fat) off City Barbecue brisket, etc. It's legal to be addicted to fat, albeit unhealthy.

What if I am not hurting anyone with my hedonism?

Posted by Docile Jim Brady on 01/30/2009 @ 03:39PM PT
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Perhaps some are microchip implanted by the corrupt in this country, as many have been. We are in touch with over a thousand citizens.
Smoking is one effect of the torture being experienced by the microchip implanted/targeted.
Social cruelty and isolation is a HUGE part of the campaign against the targeted, who are likely to also be stalked, inhibiting the targeted from getting police, etc. help for crimes against the targeted, etc.
See:
http://criminaljustice.change.org/actions/view/ban_mind_controldirected_energy_weapons_abuse_and_torture

The above exemplifies tragic reality of our society: corrupt mafia and other enemy combatants of the democracy of our country and beyond committing crimes and now much are cover up crimes against our citizens. Remember Watergate?
Please do your research to know it is really happening.
You might try Sonoma State University Peter Phillips' article called: A Study of the History of US Intelligence Community Human Rights Violations and Continuing Research at
http://www.projectcensored.org/

and other electronic warfare research.
Be aware of the propaganda out there though, again to cover up these crimes against so many.
Thank you.

Posted by P F on 01/24/2009 @ 04:24PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.