Why Do Gays Smoke So Much More Than Straights?

Note: this is part of our series on gay physical health.

Did you know that gay and bisexual people smoke way more than their straight counterparts?

51% more, to be precise.

We know this from an extensive study titled "Tobacco Use at the Intersection of Sex and Sexual Identity in the U.S., 2007–2020."

This investigation combined the results of 30 different studies, conducted over the span of 13 years, and involving more than a million participants. When we delve deeper into the data, the results are indeed shocking.

In terms of overall current smoking prevalence, almost 29 out of every 100 individuals in the LGBT community are smokers.

This rate is notably higher than the 19 out of every 100 smokers among heterosexuals. Moreover, smoking habits differ across subgroups within the LGBT community. Bisexual women top the list, with 38 out of 100 reporting they smoke, followed by lesbians, gay men, and bisexual men.

Such disproportionate rates of tobacco use raise a critical question: Why does the LGBT community have a higher prevalence of smoking?

This significant health disparity can be attributed to a complex interplay of social, economic, and psychological factors.

LGBT individuals frequently encounter discrimination and stigma due to their sexual orientation, which can contribute to a heightened level of chronic stress. This stress can prompt individuals to resort to smoking as a coping mechanism.

Alongside this, the LGBT community reports higher rates of mental health disorders, possibly triggered or worsened by the stigma and discrimination they face. The co-occurrence of these mental health issues can further increase the tendency to smoke.

Poverty and inadequate access to quality healthcare are two more factors that intensify this issue. Economically disadvantaged individuals often find it challenging to afford preventative healthcare services and treatments for smoking-related health problems.

When it comes to healthcare, LGBT people are also less likely to receive culturally sensitive care, deterring them from seeking the help they need to quit smoking.

Further complicating the picture, substance abuse is more common among LGBT individuals, which can exacerbate tobacco use. The situation is especially dire for bisexual women, who report the highest prevalence of smoking.

This suggests that there could be additional intersectional stressors related to both sexual orientation and gender.

These findings underscore the urgent need for action from policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers. The higher smoking rates within the LGBT community not only point towards a significant health risk for these individuals but also hint at broader systemic disparities that need to be addressed.

Given that smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death globally, tackling this issue should be a high priority.