The director of the LGBT Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee says a new federal effort to reduce smoking among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is worthwhile and necessary.
The Food and Drug Administration’s social media campaign, called “This Free Life,” aims to reduce the rate of tobacco use among the LGBT community.
Surveys show much higher rates of smoking among LGBT adults than heterosexual adults.
Other issues in the LGBT community – such as youth homelessness, school safety and employment discrimination – overshadow the tobacco problem but shouldn’t obscure it, said Jen Murray, director of UWM’s LGBT Resource Center.
“Smoking, especially e-cigarette use, cannot be ignored or seen as less of a problem,” said Murray, who is also a member of the City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance. “Most people don’t realize that smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death, causing more deaths than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries and firearm-related incidents combined.”
Although the campaign is not running in any Wisconsin markets, “This Free Life” videos can be seen at the campaign website or on the campaign’s You Tube page.
