LGBTQI+ Populations

LGBTQIA+ Statistics

Tobacco Use

  • 16.1% of adults who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual smoked cigarettes in 2020 (compared with 12.3% of heterosexual/straight adults)1
  • LGBT individuals often have risk factors for smoking that include daily stress related to prejudice and stigma that they may face2,3
  • High rates of tobacco use within the LGBT community are also due in part to the aggressive marketing by tobacco companies that sponsor events, bar promotions, giveaways, and advertisements4

Quitting Tobacco Use

  • According to 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey data, LGB individuals are 5 times more likely than others to never intend to call a smoking cessation quitline4
  • LGBT individuals are less likely to have health insurance than straight individuals,5,6 which may negatively affect health as well as access to cessation treatments, including counseling and medication.

Resource Links

References

  1. Cornelius ME, Loretan CG, Wang TW, Jamal A, Homa DM. Tobacco Product Use Among Adults — United States, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:397–405. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7111a1
  2. Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights. LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender). https://no-smoke.org/at-risk-people/lgbtq-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-questioning/
  3. Cochran SD, Bandiera FC, Mays VM. Sexual Orientation-Related Differences in Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke Exposure among US Adults Aged 20-59 Years: 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. American Journal of Public Health 2013;103(10):1837-44
  4. Fallin A, Lee YO, Bennett K, Goodin A. Smoking Cessation Awareness and Utilization Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adults: An Analysis of the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 2015:1-5
  5. Tabaac AR, Solazzo AL, Gordon AR, Austin SB, Guss C, Charlton BM. Sexual Orientation-Related Disparities in Healthcare Access in Three Cohorts of U.S. Adults. Preventive Medicine, 2020;132:1-7
  6. Charlton BM, Gordon AR, Reisner SL, Sarda V, Samnaliev M, Austin SB. Sexual Orientation-Related Disparities in Employment, Health Insurance, Healthcare Access and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cohort Study of US Male and Female Adolescents and Young Adultsexternal icon. BMJ Open, 2018;8:e020418