Tobacco use in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

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You’re not alone. Research shows that many individuals within 2SLGBTQIA+ communities experience a higher use of commercial tobacco uniquely because of factors related to their gender and sexual identities: 

financial_burden

Targeted marketing: The commercial tobacco industry has historically exploited 2SLGBTQIA+ freedom and rights advocacy by copying language used by activists in their products and marketing campaigns. Influencers, giveaways, merchandise, product placement, and sponsorship in 2SLGBTQIA+ press and events are some of the ways that the industry tries to normalize tobacco use and appeal to the communities.

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Barriers to safer and equitable healthcare: Many 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals experience challenges accessing the affirming healthcare they need, including support to reduce or quit nicotine. There is still more work to be done to ensure that the healthcare system and interactions are safer and more inclusive for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

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Normalization in some community spaces: The use of commercial tobacco products in 2SLGBTQIA+ or allied spaces is common. This is because safer spaces are often limited to bars and entertainment venues where industry influences have normalized its use.

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Stigma, trauma, and discrimination: Many 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals face chronic or intense stress stemming from stigma, violence, and discrimination. This stress, known as minority stress, arises from direct experiences of homophobia, transphobia, and systemic marginalization. The impact often manifests in poor mental health, increased risk of mental illness, and substance use challenges, including using commercial tobacco and nicotine as coping mechanisms.

These influences contribute to higher use of commercial tobacco and nicotine in 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. 2SLGBTQIA+ communities also have a diversity of social, cultural, economic experiences that may inform how they consume tobacco. Although research is limited, estimates suggest that about 4 in 10 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals currently smoke, approximately three times Canada’s national average.1

Understanding industry tactics

If you are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and have seen tobacco advertisements in your day to day, that is likely not by chance.

Commercial tobacco companies have long targeted 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and Pride events through their marketing tactics and pinkwashing (a strategy where organizations appeal to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights to distract from harmful practices). The industry tries to normalize smoking and vaping as part of queer identity, culture, and community belonging for their own profit, when these commercial products are addictive and harmful to your health. Your identities are yours and yours alone. If you’re ready to change your relationship with nicotine, we are here to support you with a compassionate path to reduce or quit tobacco.

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Note on traditional tobacco

Traditional tobacco plays an important role in healing practices, rituals, ceremonies, and prayers for many Indigenous communities across Canada. At QuitNow, our work focuses on addressing the use of commercial tobacco products, which are mass-produced by the nicotine industry and contain harmful additives. Any references to tobacco refer to commercial products like cigarettes, cigars, heated tobacco (e.g., IQOS), chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco (e.g., snuff, snus, and recreational use of oral nicotine pouches outside of nicotine replacement therapy), and e-cigarettes. 

Learn more on our Supporting Indigenous Communities page. 

Ready for a fresh (re)start?

Thinking about cutting back or quitting smoking or vaping? There are many folks out there on the same journey, and change is absolutely possible. Many 2SLGBTQIA+ people have found ways to replace or reduce nicotine from their life and introduce new tools to handle stress, respond to triggers, and feel stronger and healthier. Whatever your reasons, whether it’s for your body, your gender affirming surgery, your mental wellbeing, your loved ones, or your community, you deserve support that considers your lived experiences and  affirms who you are.

Your health matters. 2SLGBTQIA+ communities matter.

Learn about protecting your health

Protect your health against cancer, lung diseases, and heart diseases. Read about the benefits of quitting smoking or vaping here.

Support your mental wellbeing

While nicotine can feel like short-term relief, dependence can raise baseline stress over time. Many people notice mood and sleep improve after they quit. Quitting tobacco is an important step to improving your mental wellbeing. Learn more about mental health and quitting here.

Share a healthier future with your friends, family, and communities

Living without a dependence on smoking or vaping means there are less barriers in the way you show up for your loved ones. You can also share your journey with them if they are also looking to change their relationship with nicotine. When you quit smoking, you also protect those around you from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Stand up to Big Tobacco

Big Tobacco doesn’t care about 2SLGBTQIA+ liberation. Quitting or reducing tobacco use is a powerful act of resistance from Big Tobacco’s exploitation and harms to the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. 

What Big Tobacco Thinks

Save money

Refuse to support an industry that profits from addiction and reclaim your budget for what truly serves you. Find out how much you could save by quitting smoking.

Discovering your journey to quitting or reducing nicotine

Where to start

How we can help

This journey ahead may bring up different feelings or concerns, but we’re here to guide you to take it one step at a time. We recognize that many 2SLGBTQIA+ folks face barriers to accessing safe and affirming health services, including nicotine cessation support. Our team and community aim to provide safer, judgment-free support, and we’re here to meet you where you’re at*.

Explore our free and confidential services:

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Call a Quit Coach for one-on-one advice
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Chat live with a Quit Coach for practical help
Sign up to Text & Email Tips for extra motivation
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Tune into monthly Group Support Sessions
Join others on the Community Forum

Disclaimer: At QuitNow, we recognize the valuable training, experience, and educational background of our team, while also acknowledging that understandings of 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences continue to evolve. We are committed to ongoing learning, reflection, and service improvements so that we can provide care that is safer, more inclusive, and affirming.

You are welcome to share aspects of your identity if and when you feel comfortable. We may ask optional demographic questions, including questions about gender, to support evaluation and help us better understand who we are reaching. You do not have to answer these questions to access QuitNow services, and you may always choose “prefer not to answer.”

Safer and affirming 2SLGBTQIA+ support

Support to address smoking or vaping

Health Initiatives for Men (HIM)

HIM provides a range of health programs and services to support the sexual, mental, physical, and social health of self-identified Gay, Bisexual, Queer men and gender diverse people in BC. Individuals can access free one-on-one counselling for support with substances including commercial tobacco use.

https://checkhimout.ca/ 

Prism Services

Prism, a Vancouver Coastal Health service, provides education, information and referral service for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, and Two Spirit communities affected by substance use.

https://www.vch.ca/en/service/prism-services#overview 

The Expand Project

The Expand Project engages queer and trans young adults ages 18 to 29 on commercial tobacco and nicotine use from 2019 to 2026. The project partnered with several organizations across Canada including the Health Initiatives for Men (HIM) where they collaborated on community engagement, offered limited free nicotine replacement therapy and offered training to their counsellors to support clients who want to change their relationship with nicotine. To learn more about the impact from the project’s first phase, please visit this report here.

While the project is no longer active, the website continues to serve as a knowledge hub for 2S/LGBTQIA+ information related to nicotine use including: 

  • Information related to mental health and considerations for gender affirming surgery 
  • Key questions answered 
  • Lived experience stories 
  • Testimonials from quit contest participants 

https://www.expandproject.ca/  

Wellbeing and peer support

QMUNITY

BC's Queer, Trans, and Two Spirit Resource Centre. QMUNITY offers culturally safe counselling services, self-help tools, and monthly peer-facilitated peer support groups for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. 

https://qmunity.ca/ 

Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA)

The UNYA Two-Spirit Collective is a program for self-identifying Indigenous youth ages 15 to 30 who identify as Two-Spirit and/or LGBTQ2S+. UNYA create safer, inclusive, and empowering spaces through “Dress Up Your Gender” events, cultural gatherings, and ceremonies.

https://unya.bc.ca/community-connection/2-spirit-collective/

2 Spirits of BC

The 2 Spirits of BC website provides resources on two spirit teachings, wellness, and connections.

https://2spiritsbc.com/ 

Four Feathers

The Four Feathers Society is a tribe of Aboriginal living in British Columbia who self-identify as being two-spirit, gay, lesbian, Transgender, Bi-sexual, Intersex, and/or Queer. The society strives to provide opportunities to its members to strengthen and heal their spirits, hearts, minds and physical well-being.  

https://fourfeathers.net/ 

Foundry BC

Foundry BC is a province-wide network of integrated health and wellness services for young people aged 12-24. 

Queer Café is Foundry’s weekly virtual drop-in for LGBTQIA and Two-Spirit young people. The session is led by peer supporters and includes activities, crafts, workshops, games, and discussions on mental health and substance use.

Email: queercafe@foundrybc.ca

https://foundrybc.ca/

Trans Care BC

Trans Care BC, a program under the Provincial Health Services Authority, is dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of trans, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse individuals across British Columbia. 

https://www.transcarebc.ca/ 

Fraser Valley Youth Society

Fraser Valley Youth Society offers weekly drop-in centres for 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied youth in the communities of Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission. The peer support group explores topics including sexual and gender identity, body positivity, safe spaces and community engagement, and healthy relationships.

https://fvys.ca/

Okanagan Transgender Drop-In

The Okanagan Transgender Drop-in is a peer support and discussion group for transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, Two-Spirit, and intersex people in the Greater Kelowna area.

Email: trans@gayokanagan.com 

Trans Connect

Trans Connect provide support and resources for trans and gender diverse people, including a buddy system, social groups, and community forums, in Nelson and Cranbook. 

Email: ankorstransconnect@gmail.com

Safe Spaces

Safe spaces is a program in Kamloops and Merritt that offers drop-in appointments, peer group meetings, and resources to 2SLGBTQIAP+ youth and their allies between the ages of 12-26.

https://www.interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca/programs/youth/safe-spaces

You can do this!

Quitting can take several attempts; each one teaches you something new and gets you closer to being tobacco-free.  We’re here to set you up with the right tools and support.

Are you ready to go tobacco-free? 

Start your quit journey now!

Additional resources

Breathing Room (Smoke Break)
Queering the Fundamentals of Nicotine Cessation Course – For Providers (Egale)
Community Guide (Smoke Break)
LGBTQ+ Youth Resource Guide for B.C (Fraser Valley Youth Society)
BC and Vancouver Lower Mainland 2SLGBTQIA+ Resources (What's On Queer BC)

Culturally relevant resources for Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer folks are available on our Supporting Indigenous Communities page.

References

  1. Clarke, M. P., & Coughlin, J. R. (2012). Prevalence of smoking among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender and queer (LGBTTQ) subpopulations in Toronto—The Toronto Rainbow Tobacco Survey (TRTS). Canadian Journal of Public Health, 103(2), 132–136. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404218 

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