LGBTQ+ Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative
According to data from the Williams Institute, and the West Virginia University School of Public Health,the total LGBTQ+ population (age 13+) in West Virginia is approximately 68,000, with 41% being tobacco users.
Factors driving the disproportionate use of tobacco for this population include: stress due to social stigma and discrimination; peer pressure; aggressive marketing by the tobacco industry, and limited access to effective tobacco treatment.
Additionally, the tobacco industry has made efforts to appeal to the LGBTQ+ consumers for years, using tactics such as targeted advertising in LGBTQ+ press, cigarette giveaways, and free tobacco industry merchandise.
The WV Division of Tobacco Prevention is using collaboration and evidence-based strategies to address these tactics and the identified needs of this population.
The Covenant House of WV is the current lead agencey for the LGBTQ+ grant that targets tobacco cessation in WV.
Contact Kay Albright at Covenant House for additional information regarding the LGBTQ+ tobacco cessation program. kalbright@wvcovenanthouse.org.
The WV Division of Tobacco Prevention partners with The National LGBTQ Cancer Network to promote tobacco cessation prevention and cancer LGBTQ cancer survivors. The Network is striving to collect as much LGBTQ data as possible. There is an article titled Advancing Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity (SOGI) Measures in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System outlining the importance collecting this specific data. The Network has also scored West Virginia on its current status of inclusive Best Practices.
New in September 2022 - University of Michigan Issue Brief "Tobacco Use among Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer (LGBTQ+)
Resources:
Out: The National Cancer Survey
Research that Matters: The Impact of Stigma and Discrimination Against LGBT People in West Virginia, February 2021.
A new Resource for LGBTQI population from the National LGBT Cancer Network. Outlast Tobacco.
