According to a recent American Medical Association study, LGBTQ people smoke cigarettes at much higher rates than their heteronormative counterparts. Now, this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. The lives of gays and trans folk can be very stressful at times, and tobacco does seem to have a calming effect on the nerves. Unfortunately, the overall impact smoking has on health--everything from emphysema to heart disease to, most notoriously, lung cancer--negates any temporary relief to the nervous system. I do wish more queer people would just kick the habit.
Now, this homophobe's recent promotion isn't bound to help matters any. In fact, I suddenly have the urge to light one up!
