Report: LGBT Youth Smoking at Higher Rates Than Other Young People

A new report released last week by the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, a national social justice organization focused on the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, reveals surprising levels of tobacco use among young people who identify as LGBT.

The report, “Coming Out About Smoking,” was the culmination of a four-month study and survey of nearly 1,000 young people aged 18 to 24 from 44 states and territories including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Data was collected via online and paper surveys, as well as 50 separate in-person focus group sessions at LGBT youth organizations in Illinois, Oregon, Florida, Utah, and New York.

Among the sexual minority youth surveyed, researchers found youth were more likely to smoke due to stressors unique to their identities and experiences, including discrimination and lack of family acceptance. Researchers also found young people identified tobacco use as an important part of LGBT culture and social activities. A majority (51 percent) said they were currently smoking (42 percent) or were former smokers (9 percent) — rates much higher than among their heterosexual peers.

NYAC’s deputy executive director, jb beeson, says it was important to undertake the study, for both external research purposes and internal, community wellbeing.

“First, there isn’t a lot of information out there about young adults for this specific age group, 18 to 24, and there is a gap in the literature and research done on LGBTQ folks in general,” beeson says. “We also knew there was something going on – like this was the pink elephant in the room. [Smoking] is an issue among queer folks, but there is a disconnect of not talking about it but seeing it happen.”

Among other survey results, NYAC found 20 percent of self-identified “nonsmokers” admitted to smoking socially. That data, beeson says, concerned the organization and researchers.

“We already knew there were lots of social smokers and we had a feeling LGBT folks would be smoking at higher rates than straight and non-transgender young adults,” beeson says, “but the amount for which it was confirmed for us was surprising and startling. It kind of blew us away to actually see the numerical values and how much of it really is a social activity.”

But researchers say they also found some positive results, including young people’s preference to date nonsmokers and their overwhelming tendency to not smoke heavily; 77 percent of survey participants reported being “light smokers” (10 cigarettes per day or less). Many youth also stated a desire to quit smoking – 56 percent said they’d stopped at least once in the past year in an effort to quit and 42 percent were optimistic about their chances for quitting if they tried.

Gustavo Torrez, program manager for the National LGBT Tobacco Control Network, thinks the positive data should be used by those seeking to help young people quit smoking.

“Is it is positive [young people] are thinking about quitting,” Torrez says. “That needs to be a part of the messaging of all these groups who have been countering the marketing of the tobacco industry. We need to keep people thinking about it, have them look more into cessation programs. They are willing to take that step and they’ve already tried, but they need a bit more assistance.”

The difficulty in tackling tobacco use problems inside the LGBT community is its place in social and cultural settings and experiences. Torrez says the practice has become “normalized,” as tobacco industries have historically marketed heavily to sexual minority communities. NYAC’s research shows young people fall victim expectations of what it means to be gay and how to interact with others.

“It has so much to do with peer pressure and community building,” beeson says. “There is a good intention behind it, but it is unhealthy.”

NYAC’s next steps will be reaching out with the information they’ve gathered and providing necessary tools to organizations working with LGBT youth.

“We are making sure to do a big push to raise awareness, to get it out to all of our partner organizations, community organizations and LGBT organizations,” beeson says. “Then, we are going to be advocating for changes on the way tobacco is being addressed in the LGBT community.”

Matt Comer is a staff writer for Campus Progress.

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