Current Boulder Pride Smoke free GLBT programming:
Based on last year's statewide GLBT tobacco use needs assessment and Colorado Department of Public Health data, members of the Colorado Smoke Free GLBT task force have learned that the GLBT population in Colorado use tobacco at a significantly high rate and that the majority of the statewide GLBT community remains unaware and/or unwilling to address the devastating effects of tobacco use.
As a result, Boulder Pride's current program focus is on conducting grassroots activities to enhance awareness and provide education to the Boulder GLBT community regarding how our community has been successfully targeted by the tobacco industry and the resulting effects. For the next three months, Boulder Pride is carrying out the following SmokeFree GLBT education and awareness and policy activities:
The Last Drag Class: GLBT culturally competent quit smoking class offered at the Boulder Pride House. The Last Drag is a free quit smoking class for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV+ smokers. Quit smoking in a confidential and LGBTQ affirming group setting. Classes led by a highly skilled and experienced lesbian clinic leader certified by the American Lung Association. Classes are are free of charge.
Boulder Pride Block Party Smoke Free GLBT informational booth: Designed to increase awareness of tobacco industry targeting of the GLBT community and to provide GLBT culturally competent tobacco cessation resources. .
Provider Education Training: "Fight for Equality. Live to Appreciate it." The goal of this training for medical doctors in Boulder County is to improve GLBT access to medical care, prevention and early detection and to facilitate medical knowledge and cultural sensitivity in treating the GLBT community.
Tobacco Free Policy Work: The goal of this work is to position Boulder Pride as leaders in the fight against the tobacco industry; to raise awareness on the harmful impact of tobacco on the GLBT community; to examine current organizational policy; and to provide a safe, smoke free environment for all who use the Boulder Pride House Community Center.
Engage in SmokeFree GLBT education and awareness via viral marketing and providing material to local Boulder GLBT networking websites.
For more information about all SmokeFree GLBT tobacco programs in Colorado see www.smokefreeglbt.org
GLBT Tobacco Facts
GLBT people smoke more than any other community in Colorado.
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Tobacco kills more GLBTQ people every year than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, suicides, illegal drugs, homicides, and fires combined. |
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GLBT people are twice more likely to smoke than non-GLBT people |
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GLBT youth smoke at an alarming rate, 59% compared to 35% non-GLBT youth |
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The American Cancer Society estimates that over 30,000 GLBT people die each year of tobacco-related diseases. (This is a conservative estimate because it presumes that GLBT individuals smoke at the same rate as the general population.) |
Why do GLBT Individuals Smoke More?
Key Findings on why GLBT individuals smoke from Boulder County Public Health Discussion Group Findings
| GLBT Youth: | Primary driver toward tobacco use is social |
| Transgender Individuals: | Primary driver toward tobacco use is stress |
| Elder GLBTs: | Smoking in previous era was pervasive and offered social connection |
| Lesbians: | Smoking meets need for belonging; may soothe feelings of loss and grief |
| Gay Men: | Smoking used as stress reduction; viewed as pleasurable |
| HIV+ Individuals: | Smoking is a coping response to numerous life issues (financial worries, housing, food, medical care/medication costs); a means of relaxation and escape |
See the Executive Summary from Boulder County Public Health HERE
See the full report HERE
Resources to help you Quit
See up-to-date information on how to quit for GLBT individuals at the SmokeFree GLBT website: http://www.smokefreeglbt.org/QuitNow.html
Background About Smoke Free GLBT
The SmokeFree GLBT program, led and managed by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Colorado, is a statewide effort designed to reduce chronic disease and death directly related to tobacco use in the GLBT communities of Colorado. For the first time in the history of the state of Colorado, funds are available to address the high rate of tobacco use in Colorado's GLBT community by providing prevention activities for GLBT youth, cessation education and activities for adults, and social marketing materials to change community norms that support tobacco use. Another goal of the GLBT Smoke Free program is to build capacity and strengthen GLBT organizations across Colorado, providing greater access to information and a stronger queer community statewide. A statewide GLBT Smoke Free Task Force, spearheaded and managed by the GLBT Center of Colorado, has been formed and consists of eight GLBT community organizations across the state of Colorado. All GLBT Task Force members, including Boulder Pride, are currently working to develop GLBT culturally competent programming in their local communities.
Boulder Pride and Smoke Free GLBT
As part of Boulder Pride's mission we are committed to ensuring the health and well-being of GLBT persons in Boulder County. Recent research has confirmed that GLBT persons smoke at much higher rates than members of the heterosexual population. With healthcare barriers compounding prevention and treatment, we are faced with a critical public health issue. The reasons why GLBT persons smoke are complex and finding and implementing effective prevention and cessation programs take a committed and sustained community wide effort.
The Program
Smoke Free GLBT, led and managed by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Colorado, is developing a comprehensive action plan for an anti-tobacco campaign to address prevention, cessation, and second-hand smoke issues in Colorado's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) population. It is the goal of the program to use education, support and social marketing to inspire individuals to make positive changes in their health behavior. For information on the statewide Smoke Free GLBT program go to http://www.smokefreeglbt.org/
The Issue
The GLBT population has a higher tobacco use rate than the population at large resulting in increased exposure, illness, and rate of death. American Legacy Foundation’s "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Forum Executive Summary" states that several factors appear to contribute to increased rates of smoking among the GLBT population, including higher stress levels, the role of bars as a social outlet, reduced access to health care, and targeted marketing efforts by the tobacco industry.
The Goal
To prevent initial use of tobacco by youth, significantly increase cessation among youth and adults, and to decrease secondhand smoke exposure to youth and adults. In order to address the tobacco industry’s aggressive target marketing to the GLBT community, a counter marketing campaign is also part of the strategic plan along with Colorado's new smoke free ban.
Contact Boulder Pride's Smoke Free GLBT Program
For information on Boulder Pride’s Smoke Free GLBT program, please contact, Kirsten Spielmann, Smoke Free GLBT Program Director, at 303-499-5777 or email kirsten@boulderpride.org
Join the Boulder Pride GLBT Tobacco Advisory Coalition Now
Here’s an important opportunity to make a difference in your community. Boulder Pride is inviting members of the local community to serve on the Boulder Pride GLBT Tobacco Advisory Coalition. The Coalition, comprised of diverse members in the local queer community, will have a very large voice in deciding what kinds of programming and services are developed for GLBT persons in Boulder County. Smokers, ex-smokers, nonsmokers welcome! For more information and to join the Advisory Coalition, please call Kirsten at Boulder Pride, 303-499-5777 or kirsten@boulderpride.org