Recorded presentation

Lisa M. Carlson, MPH, CHES, Rollins School of Public Health, TTAC, Emory University, 513 Bridlewood Circle, Decatur, GA 30030, 404-712-8556, lcarlso@sph.emory.edu, Patricia Dunn, JD, MSW, Amphora Consulting, 421 Eureka St, San Francisco, CA 94114, and Alison M. Sipler, MPH, CHES, Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, GCR 808, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Existing research on adult tobacco use shows a higher prevalence among lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) populations than among the general population. In 2001, an LGBT gathering at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health identified a vital priority: creating an action plan to address disproportionate consumption and health burden of tobacco use in LGBT communities. This gathering evolved into the 2002 LGBTI Tobacco Control and Research Summit, after which representatives from national LGBT organizations agreed to spearhead development of a National LGBT Communities Tobacco Action Plan - representing the first effort to create a comprehensive tobacco control and prevention plan in LGBT communities. To ensure broad involvement, other LGBT organizations joined to form a National LGBT Communities Tobacco Action Plan Steering Committee. Work groups were formed to look at prevention, treatment and research in advance of a working meeting to develop ideas for the plan. In October, 2003, a Working Meeting gathered a diverse group of 64 anti-tobacco and LGBT health activists to develop ideas and a first draft was unveiled for broader community input and involvement at the 2003 National LGBTI Tobacco Control and Research Summit. The purpose of the Plan is to establish key criteria and goals to actively fight the disproportionate consumption and health burden of tobacco use in LGBT communities through synergistic collaboration on research, prevention, cessation/treatment, and policy at local, state, and national levels. This presentation will provide background to the process and give an update on the status and implementation of the plan.

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