LGBTQIA+ Resources

Adults and youth in the LGBTQ+ population have a higher likelihood to use tobacco than those who identify as straight. Recent data shows that 20% of LGB adults and 34.9% of transgender adults smoke cigarettes compared to 15.3% of heterosexual adults. For people considering gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy cigarette smoking can lead to increased health risks on heart health, interfering with hormone therapy and recovery from surgery. 

Higher impacts of minority stress such as discrimination, rejection, victimization, transphobia, homophobia, and feeling closeted has contributed to an increase in tobacco use among LGBTQ+ people. Considering the political environment with over 500 Anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in 2024 alone, a growing mental health crisis coupled with everyday stressors, the LGBT+ community is vulnerable to tobacco use. Health providers play a crucial role in helping their patients stay healthy in the midst of many factors harming their health. 1 out of every 2 smokers note that they were motivated to quit because their health care provider recommended it. In the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey noted that of their 92,000 respondents, 24% did not see a doctor when they needed to due to fear of mistreatment within the last 12 months. It is imperative that clinicians are trauma informed, culturally appropriate and tailor their approach to meet the needs of their LGBTQ+ patients. 

NYCTT prioritizes the reduction of tobacco related disparities and is working to provide quality tobacco dependence screening and care to all New Yorkers, especially those most harmed by the tobacco industry. Find below resources for equitable approaches to tobacco prevention and control in the LGBTQ+ community. 

_{† The term “LGBTQ+” is used on this page to refer to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer with the plus sign indicating inclusion of people who are questioning, intersex, asexual, or who hold other gender/sex/romantic identities not specifically identified. Many studies cited on this page only looked at certain groups within the greater LGBTQ+ community. When single terms like “gay” or “lesbian,” or acronyms like “LGB” are used on this page, this corresponds with how terms are used in the cited studies and, often, the studies’ populations. More studies are needed to understand the ways that commercial tobacco and exposure affect other groups in the LGBTQ+ community. ****} 

Learn More!