Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender - LGBT - communities in Scotland

As part of an ongoing commitment to reducing health inequalities, PATH's Development Officer (based at ASH Scotland) has recently looked at issues relating to smoking and tobacco use within Scotland's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

A result of this work has been the publication of several pieces of work:

• An initial report, 'Stop-smoking service provision for LGBT communities in Scotland' (July 2010), which includes recommendations for helping tackle higher smoking rates within this cohort
• The presentation of the report's findings at the bi-annual GayCon event (October 2010)
• The results of a survey of LGBT voluntary organisations and sexual health practitioners (January 2011) to examine if/when the issue of smoking and tobacco use is raised with their clients
• Discussions from a subsequent focus group (February 2011) which sought to unpack issues from the practitioners' survey
• A final report (April 2011) of all related LGBT work detailed above, which includes ongoing recommendations for PATH partners. 

Additionally, in March 2011 the ASH Scotland Information Service issued an information briefing on tobacco use and LGBT communities, which gives an outline of key issues. 

This was followed up in May 2011 with an information briefing on tobacco use, HIV and Hepatitis C.

PATH's Development Officer is able to offer free awareness-raising sessions around issues relating to tobacco and smoking use within Scotland's LGBT communities, and/or for tobacco use and those living with HIV or hepatitis.

For more information about any of these details, please contact Linda Bates, Development Officer (PATH) on 0131 220 9481 or via lbates@ashscotland.org.uk.