I didn't do that, did I? Sorry. :)
Posted on 10/27/2004 11:39:46 AM PDT by presidio9
Gay and lesbian youth, like older LGBT people, may be 40 to 60 percent more likely than their straight peers to smoke cigarettes, according to data presented last week at a conference of gay and lesbian medical professionals.
In a survey of over 12,000 students in grades 7-12, about 8 percent of the respondents indicated having same-sex attractions or same-sex relationships. Of those, nearly 45 percent of females and 35 percent of males reported smoking. Among those who did not report same-sex attractions, 29 percent -- both males and females -- were smokers.
The survey was conducted by the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), and the results were presented at the annual conference of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), held Oct. 21-23 in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
"I am deeply concerned about the Add Health study findings," said Kenneth Haller, M.D., president of GLMA. "Although the findings are consistent with previous literature showing higher rates of smoking among GLB youth, GLMA hopes the conclusions will help to catalyze the community."
A Harris Interactive poll in 2001 found that 36 percent of respondents who self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender were smokers, as compared with 25 percent of all adults surveyed. Several factors may contribute to the higher prevalence, such as higher levels of social stress, frequent patronage of bars and clubs and direct targeting of LGBT consumers by tobacco companies.
In the same poll, LGBT smokers who tried to quit said they attempted and failed eight times to quit smoking, on average.
Helen Lettlow, assistant vice president for priority populations at the American Legacy Foundation (ALF), acknowledged that quitting smoking is tough, but she said the important part is to keep trying.
"There are several factors that are helpful in quitting: creating a plan that includes setting a quit date, having the support of your family and friends, utilizing online or telephone counseling and seeing a medical professional to learn if there are medications that can help," she told the PlanetOut Network.
"Gay youth may find that Internet-based counseling and support boost their likelihood of success due to the anonymity. QuitNet.com is one such resource," she added, referring to one of the Web sites supported by ALF.
It's amazing that they can judge the behavior of smoking but not the homosexual behavior. Maybe they should test for a smoking gene.
But of course; they are pole smokers
That's just thuper.
MN's own Saint Cloud State University (SCSU Huskies) elected a gay male as homecoming queen this year.
I bet it was a smokin' hot time.
I would like to know how a 7th grader can determine if he/she has same sex attraciton? It would be interesting to see the demographics of the survey. What percentage of each grade considers themselves gay or attracted to the same sex? It would be interesting to see at what grade (age) people are determining they are gay. Also, it is interesting that the survey noted that the percentage of those describing themselves as having same sex attraction and/or gay relationships in this age group is higher than in the general population. Could it be that our society's acceptance of the gay "lifestyle" is attracting more kids to this lifestyle?
Don't give them any more bright ideas, us normal smokers already get a bad rap.
Wow. Let's all light up a fag and celebrate!
Oh BUT GOD FORBID SHOULD THEY SMOKE! heh!
Its because Joe Camel's face looks like a penis
Reminds me of an old saying (changed from "she" to "he")...
If he smokes, he pokes.
Exactly.
Could you hit your ping list please......mine is limited at best. thanks.
The real newsflash is that 8% of teens these days are identifying as homosexual. I guess the "outreach" is really paying off.
I would think there would be more concern about that.......but no, that would be gay bashing. Smoker bashing is OK, though.
As a proud Polish-American, I'm deeply offended.
I would appreciate it if you would refer to them as "bone-smokers" next time.
Thanks in advance for your compliance in this matter.
I didn't do that, did I? Sorry. :)
Let us all work together to find a cure for this terrible disease of faggitude!!
So there's a positive correlation between homosexuality and cigarette smoking. And it is well established that there are strong inverse relationships between educational levels and cigarette smoking, and between income levels and cigarette smoking.
Therefore, since FReepers as a group are surely straighter, better educated, and wealthier than the overall population, can we assume that the percentage of FReepers who smoke is far below the 25% national adult smoking percentage? I'd certainly think, and hope, so. One easy way to increase the conservative percentage of the population is to outlive the liberals.
No problem!!!!!!!!
What strikes my funny bone is that for how long has it been pounded that the percentage of homosexuals that smoke is less than heterosexuals, with the laughable rationale that they tend to be more upscale and concerned with their looks and health than the average smoker who is equated with trailer trash.
Oh really?
Smoke what, pole??? hahahahahahaha
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