Tobacco Policies and Alcohol Sponsorship at Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Festivals: Time for Intervention

Members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities have higher rates of tobacco use and alcohol abuse than their non-LGBT counterparts.1 Both alcohol and tobacco use represent forms of substance use with substantial costs to the US economy, to population health, and to LGBT lives. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption cause more than half a million premature deaths each year in the United States. These substances vary considerably in their regulation by government, use, abuse, and consequences. However, disproportionate tobacco and alcohol use among LGBT people has been linked to some common factors, including experiences with stigma and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.