OUT Against Big Tobacco Los Angeles (OABT-LA) began in 2018 at Equality California. Through its five-year tenure, OABT-LA had many accomplishments, including passing a comprehensive tobacco retail license in West Hollywood. OABT-LA is now overseen by the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network.
For more information on the OUT Against Big Tobacco Central ValleyCoalition, click here.
OUT Against Big Tobacco LA is excited to announce the Community Engagement Program! This funding opportunity will offer $2,500 to four (4) organizations or individuals interested in building their capacity to participate in LGBTQ+ tobacco-control efforts in Los Angeles County.
OABT-LA is the LGBTQ+ regional project in Los Angeles made up of LGBTQ+ individuals and community organizations that collectively work together to address tobacco control and health inequity issues within California’s LGBTQ+ community.
We make policy changes targeted to reduce the tobacco-related health disparities within the LGBTQ+ community. We’re fighting back and working to enact the following policies throughout Los Angeles County and the state of California:
Restrict the availability of ALL flavors in ALL tobacco products. No Exceptions.
No longer allow redemption of discounts and point-of-sale price reduction promotions for the purchase of ANY tobacco product.
OABT-LA Coalition
TheOUT Against Big Tobacco Los Angeles Coalition, supported by the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, are alliances of LGBTQ+ individuals and community organizations collectively working to address tobacco control and health inequity issues within California’s LGBTQ+ community.
For decades, Big Tobacco has preyed on the LGBTQ+ community, targeting usthrough their marketing campaigns, getting us hooked on their deadly products.Theresult? 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 will not allow them prey on us any longer. They don’t respect our existence, but they will respect our resistance.
Cessation and Mental Health Resources
The rate of tobacco use in the LGBTQ+ community is more than twice as high as our non-LGBTQ+ peers, putting the 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.
In February of 2021, West Hollywood City Counsilmembes voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that prohibited the sale of flavored tobacco products and the use of tobacco coupons and discounts.
One of our coalition members publisheda piece in QVoiceNews about the need for tobacco related research on transgender communities titled, “Research, data on transgender tobacco use needed.”
This videoaddresses the impact of tobacco use on gender affirming care and transition for gender diverse communities.
OUT Against Big Tobacco 2021 Research Publication, titled, “Tobacco Controlas an LGBTQ+ Issue: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Recommendations from LGBTQ+ Community Leaders.”
OUT Against Big Tobacco 2020 Research Publication titled, “PerceptionsAbout Flavored Tobacco Policies and Smoking Behaviors by Age, Gender and Sexual Orientation in the LGBTQ Population in Los Angeles County.”
We hosted our 2022 annual forum “Finding Your Breath” to discuss tobacco-related health disparities in diverse LGBTQ+ communities. The virtual event brought together community partners such as National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse, Somos LEA, Cedars-Sinai, Gender Justice LA, Trans Can Work We Breathe and American Lung Association to hold honest conversations around tobacco use and wellness in the LGBTQ+ community.
California voters passed Proposition 31 during the November 2022 election which implemented SB 793, setting a statewide victory prohibiting the sale of certain flavored tobacco products at retail locations, including menthol and electronic cigarettes.
Why “Just Say No” to Tobacco Fails LGBTQ+ Communities
By: Ryan Oda (he/him/his), We Breathe Program Coordinator with the CA LGBTQ HHS Network Yellowing teeth. Wrinkling skin. A dry as hell cough. We’ve all seen the ads showing the dangers of smoking cigarettes. In middle school, our teachers would pass out red ribbons and “D.A.R.E.” us to be...
