For many years, Big Tobacco has specifically targeted our community through their marketing tactics, leading to addiction to their harmful products. This has resulted in significantly higher smoking rates among LGBTQ+ individuals, more than twice as much as non-LGBTQ+ people. Additionally, over 25% of young LGBTQ+ people are using electronic vaping products.
The Out Against Big Tobacco Central Valley (OABT-CV) Coalition, supported by Equality California Institute, is an alliance of LGBTQ+ individuals and community organizations collectively working to address tobacco control and health inequity issues within California’s LGBTQ+ community.
We’re standing up to Big Tobacco and fighting for institutional changes to protect future generations from their predatory practices. Our focus is on promoting health equity and reducing tobacco-related health consequences through education and local policy ordinances. Together we’re addressing health disparities in our community, and are working towards implementing these changes throughout California’s Central Valley region and statewide. Enough is enough – it’s time to take a stand against Big Tobacco.
Farewell, OUT Against Big Tobacco Los Angeles (OABT-LA)!
OABT-LA began in 2018 at Equality California. Through its five year tenure, OABT-LA had many accomplishments such as:
OABT-LA is now overseen by our partners at the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. To learn more about their current work please click here.
English 1-800-300-8086
Spanish 1-800-600-8191
Applications are NOW open!
We aim to accomplish our mission by educating and empowering the LGBTQ+ community on the health risks of tobacco through the OABT Subgrant, thus inspiring collective action to address tobacco control and tobacco-related health inequity issues within the LGBTQ+ community.
Awards of $5000 will be made available to qualifying organizations aiming to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco on LGBTQ+ Californians living in the Central Valley. The application timeline will run from November 1st, 2023, through December 1nd, 2023. Organizations will receive a decision within 2 weeks of submitting the application. Awards are anticipated to be dispersed in two equal payments on or by January 2024 and June 2024.
Please contact Program Manager, Beatriz Baez (she/her/hers) at beatriz.baez@eqca.org with any questions.
In November 2021, we launched a statewide call to action, urging California legislators and legislative candidates to voluntarily refuse campaign contributions from the tobacco industry. Click to learn more and see who’s taken the pledge!
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OUT Against Big Tobacco Central Valley Coalition
Everyone deserves a long and healthy life in an environment that prioritizes wellness and mental health. This is the motivation behind OUT Against Big Tobacco (OABT) Los Angeles Coalition’s Public Intercept Survey. For many years, Big Tobacco has specifically targeted our community through their marketing tactics, leading to addiction to their harmful products. This has […]