Smoking

Smoking remains a major health problem and preventable cause of disease and mortality in the United States. While overall tobacco use is on the decline, some populations remain at greater risk, including LGBTQ populations. LGBTQ people are diverse in terms of age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other demographic factors, yet research has consistently found that across these differences LGBTQ identity is associated with a 1.5 to 2 times higher risk for smoking over the life span. This entry provides information from research on smoking among LGBTQ people, examining disparities with heterosexual and cisgender (i.e., not transgender) populations across demographic groups. Several potential explanations for these disparities are explored, including coping, social influences, and targeted marketing of tobacco. LGBTQ people also experience barriers to accessing ...