For the LGBTQIA+ community, attending Pride is one of the most important celebrations of the year. Our community comes together to express themselves unapologetically, backed by the love and support of the people who show up.
But that's not all who shows up. Corporations that support the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride are trying to sell themselves and their products to adopt new consumers.
Every year, one industry targets the LGBTQIA+ community with one goal in mind, to recruit new smokers.Big Tobacco has been a major part of Pride for decades, marketing their products as if they’re a requirement to being queer.
And it’s working, because LGBT young adults are nearly 2x as likely to use tobacco as their non-LGBT peers, according to a study done by Truth Initiative.