Dear Colleagues:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. In recognition of June as LGBT pride month, we are excited to launch a new video to help you raise awareness about the impact smoking has on the LGBT community and also promote the 50th Anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health.
Smoking is the largest preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. In this video, “Smoking Within the LGBT Community” Dr. Scout, director of the Network for LGBT Health Equity at CenterLink, talks about what smoking does to LGBT communities, including the tobacco industry’s long history of marketing to the LGBT community.
What can I do to help spread the word?
You can help us to highlight this important tobacco-related health information during LGBT Pride Month by using this material in your media, communication and outreach to promote and share SGR50 findings.
You can also continue to spread the word that free help is available for all who want to quit – they can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to the Tips From Former Smokers Web site.
Here are some sample Tweets and Facebook posts you can consider using for your social media channels.
Sample Tweets
- Learn how the tobacco industry uses marketing to target the LGBT community. #SGR50 #LGBTPrideMonth http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o
- DYK that the LGBT community has higher smoking rates than any other population? #SGR50 #LGBTPRideMonth http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o
- The truth behind the tobacco industry’s eagerness to support the LGBT community. #LGBTPrideMonth #SGR50 http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o
Sample Facebook Posts
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. This video explores one of the main culprits of this health disparity. http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o
In honor of LGBT Pride Month, help us shed light on the tobacco industry’s deceptive strategies against the LGBT community by sharing this video http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o