For decades, Big Tobacco has preyed on the LGBTQ+ community, targeting us through their marketing campaigns, getting us hooked on their deadly products. The result? LGBTQ+ people are more than TWICE as likely to smoke as our non-LGBTQ+ peers, and nearly 30,000 LGBTQ+ people across the country die every year of tobacco-related causes.
The OUT Against Big Tobacco Coalition is taking a stand! We were victimized. We will not allow them prey on us any longer. They don’t respect our existence, but they will respect our resistance.
We’re fighting back; fighting for the institutional changes required to save our next generation from the predatory practices of Big Tobacco. Enough is enough. Big Tobacco has the money, but we have the power of the people.
We stand and fight for policy changes targeted to reduce the tobacco-related health disparities within our community. We are fighting to enact the following policies throughout Los Angeles County and California’s Central Valley region:
AND we offer grants to LGBTQ+ serving community organizations! Learn more below.
We launched a pledge in November 2021 urging California legislators and legislative candidates to voluntarily refuse campaign contributions from the tobacco industry. CLICK HERE to learn more and see who’s taken the pledge.
The Out Against Big Tobacco Coalitions, supported by Equality California Institute, are alliances of LGBTQ+ individuals and community organizations collectively working to address tobacco control and health inequity issues within California’s LGBTQ+ community.
Our work to remove Big Tobacco from State politics was featured in a December 2021 article in the Bay Area Reporter.
In February of 2021, West Hollywood City Councilmembers voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that prohibited the sale of flavored tobacco products and the use of tobacco coupons and discounts.
The rate of tobacco use in the LGBTQ+ community is more than twice as high as our non-LGBTQ+ peers, putting our community at higher risk of contracting serious illnesses and/or developing a more severe infection. We hope the resources below help you or someone you may know.
OUT Against Big Tobacco Los Angeles County Coalition
OUT Against Big Tobacco Central Valley Coalition
To join our OUT Against Big Tobacco Central Valley coalition, click here.
We aim to accomplish this mission by educating and empowering the LGBTQ+ community on the health risks of tobacco 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 Los Angeles County.
The application deadline ran from November 1st, 2022, through November 21st, 2022. Organizations will receive a decision within 2 weeks of submitting the application. Awards are anticipated to be dispersed in two equal payments on or before December 2022 and February 2023.
Please contact Program Manager, Eric Hernandez (he/him/his) at eric@eqca.org with any questions.
Awards of $5000 will be made available to qualifying organizations aiming to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco on LGBTQ+ Californians living in Central Valley.
The application deadline ran from November 1st, 2022, through December 2nd, 2022. 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 2023 and June 2023.
Please contact Program Manager, Beatriz Baez (she/her/hers) at beatriz.baez@eqca.org with any questions.