Standing up to Big Tobacco’s scum tactics
Stigma, long-term health effects, a global public health response and a disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ communities. This list rings true to two seemingly unrelated, but actually quite paralleled issues that have long and complex histories within the queer community: HIV/AIDS and tobacco use.
The epidemics of both HIV/AIDS and tobacco use share a lot of similarities. And Big Tobacco’s decades of deception and sinister strategies have intentionally blurred the lines between these two pressing public health issues.
This must stop and unfortunately, the White House continues to delay its plan to finalize a proposal that would end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars.
This proposal needs to become final as soon as possible. Our community has been a target of Big Tobacco for decades. In the ‘90s when the industry became aware of high smoking rates within the queer community, it used this intel to market its products to gay people and under-resourced populations.
