top.gif - 25.77 K
Gay American Smoke-Out
Hosted by the Mautner Project

Compiled By GayToday

Smoking kills more gay people than hate crimes, suicide and AIDS combined.
--Kathleen Debold, executive director
of the Mautner Project

The Washington D.C. area's first Gay American Smoke-Out will be organized by the Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer. Scheduled for November 12 to 18, the week-long Smoke-Out will raise awareness about the devastating effects of tobacco on the gay community and provide resources and support to people who want to quit.

"Smoking kills more LGBT people each year than hate crimes, suicide, and AIDS combined," says Mautner Project Executive Director Kathleen DeBold.

"More lesbians die of lung cancer than breast cancer. Our community needs to recognize the fact that tobacco equals death and treat smoking as we do all threats to our collective well-being."

Because smoking rates are higher among gay people than the population in general, the LGBT community is at an increased risk for smoking-related illnesses, including cancer, emphysema and heart disease.

The Gay American Smoke-Out is designed so that local groups and individuals can choose their own ways of making a difference in the war on tobacco. Between now and Thursday, November 18, Smoke-Out volunteers will:

  • Inform local restaurants and clubs about the financial benefits of becoming "Smoke-Free."

  • Ask LGBT organizations not to accept tobacco advertisements in their publications and event programs.

  • Urge Congressional representatives to grant the FDA effective authority over tobacco products.

  • Distribute "Commit to Quit" kits at LGBT clubs and gathering places.

  • Tell friends and loved ones the truth about tobacco and letting them know where to get help if they want to quit.

    Started in 1994 by Seattle's Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center, the Gay American Smoke-Out was created to coincide with the American Cancer Society's annual "Great American Smoke-Out," but with messages and outreach specifically targeted to the LGBT community.

    Due largely to the efforts of lesbian anti-smoking activist Elise Lindborg, LGBT community centers and health organizations across the nation have joined the Smoke-Out. "I am not affiliated with any organization," says Lindborg. "I am just one woman who wants to share 9 years of tobacco prevention knowledge and expertise with my community."

    Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
    Lesbian Health: A Landmark Report

    Caring for the One You Should Love--Yourself

    Poppers: Increase Risk of Cancer, Immune Disorders

    Related Sites:
    Maunter Project
    GayToday does not endorse related sites.

    Anyone interested in volunteering for the Gay American Smoke-Out or in quitting smoking should contact Kim Goodman at the Mautner Project, 202-332-5536 or kgoodman@mautnerproject.org.

    The Mautner Project is the only national organization dedicated to fighting the lesbian cancer epidemic. In addition to its smoking cessation and prevention work, the Mautner Project provides direct services to lesbians with cancer, educates the lesbians about cancer; trains healthcare providers about the needs and concerns of women who partner with women; and is a leading advocate on lesbian health issues nationwide




    • © 1997-2002 BEI