Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. We are excited to launch a new video to help you raise awareness about the impact smoking has on the LGBT community and also promote the 50th Anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health.

New Video Launched

Smoking is the largest preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. In this video, “Smoking Within the LGBT Community,” Dr. Scout, director of the Network for LGBT Health Equity at CenterLink, talks about what smoking does to LGBT communities, including the tobacco industry’s long history of marketing to the LGBT community.

What can I do to help spread the word?

You can help us to highlight this important tobacco-related health information  by using this material in your media, communication and outreach to promote and share SGR50 findings.  

You can also continue to spread the word that free help is available for all who want to quit – they can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to the Tips From Former Smokers Web site.

Here are some sample Tweets and Facebook posts you can consider using for your social media channels.

Sample Tweets

·         Learn how the tobacco industry uses marketing to target the LGBT community. #SGR50 #LGBTPrideMonth  http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

·         DYK that the LGBT community has higher smoking rates than any other population? #SGR50 #LGBTPRideMonth http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

·         The truth behind the tobacco industry’s eagerness to support the LGBT community. #LGBTPrideMonth #SGR50 http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

Sample Facebook Posts

·         Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. This video explores one of the main culprits of this health disparity. http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

Help us shed light on the tobacco industry’s deceptive strategies against the LGBT community by sharing this video  http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

The Second Puerto Rican Pro LGBTT Health Summit: Stigma and its Impact on the Health of LGBTT Communities

Posted on June 27, 2012 by The Network for LGBT Health Equity Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

San Juan, Puerto Rico - The Second Puerto Rican Pro LGBTT Health Summit: Stigma and its Impact on the Health of LGBTT Communities, is a platform for initiating meaningful dialogue, expanding knowledge, and proposing proactive actions to understand and address diverse LGBTT realities. In honor of LGBTT Pride Month in Puerto Rico, this year’s Summit will focus on the impact of stigma on the quality of life of LGBTT communities. Stigma is a major underlying cause of health disparities in LGBTT communities, influencing the attitude and services of healthcare providers toward LGBTT patients and perpetuating discriminatory practices that lead to reduced LGBTT access to healthcare.

The Citizens Alliance for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, and Allies Health
(ACPS-LGBTTA) invites the public to attend the Second Puerto Rican LGBTT Health Summit to be held on Saturday, June 30^th, 2012 from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm at the Amphitheater of the School of Nursing, Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) in Río Piedras.
In preparation for the summit, on Friday morning, June 29^th, two four-hour training sessions will be held on the following topics: 1) Cultural sensitivity for health professionals; and 2) Protecting individual health and well-being using social media, a particularly relevant topic for LGBTT youth. Both trainings will be held at the Puerto Rico Cancer Center at the Medical Sciences Campus of UPR.

“The Summit seeks to bring together diverse sectors of society to raise awareness about health disparities and the social, cultural and environmental factors that impact our health. In particular, we seek to engage community leaders, students, health professionals, and government officials in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and the mainland U.S. about strategies for improving health outcomes in LGBTT communities,” said Juan Carlos Vega, Coordinator of the Second Summit.

The Summit is supported by several organizations, including: the National Latino Tobacco Control Network, the National Network for LGBT Health Equity, The Schools of Nursing and Dental Medicine and the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, the Legacy Foundation, the Latino Commission on AIDS, PR CoNCRA, Lambda Legal, the Medina Press and the Institute of Samadhi Yoga Institute. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us at SaludLGBTT@gmail.com. More information on the logistics and contents of the Summit can be found at our website: http://saludlgbttpr.webs.com or our Facebook page: Facebook.com/SaludLGBTT.