Missouri isn’t regulating smoking, and it’s hurting the LGBTQ community the most.
Communities with smoking-free policies tend to maintain a lower smoking prevalence amongst their residents. This is basic common sense, but finally we have LGBT-specific science to back it up, and science is exciting because we can use it to incite much needed change.
Smoking is a prevailing health issue in the LGBTQ community. According to the Out and Proud Tobacco Project, we smoke up to 2.5 times the rate of straight people. With 22% of the general population of Missouri regularly lighting up, this becomes a huge statistics for the LGBTQ community.
In the past, tobacco studies have neglected to partition the results by sexual and gender minority, which is why we are yet to see a state-wide LGBTQ specific push for smoke-free policies.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are determined to change that, and have just released findings that prove a lower smoking prevalence and greater intentions to quit among the LGBTQ smokers who live in communities with smoke-free policies.
“Sexual and gender minority individuals living in Missouri, and similar states without a statewide smoke-free law, have particular health benefits to accrue by enacting a comprehensive smoke-free policy,” said researcher, Jenna Wintemberg. “Efforts to implement local smoke-free policies and statewide laws should engage SGM leaders and organizations in these efforts.”