Board President's Column by Mary O'Sullivan
Early last fall under the guidance of our former Board President, Cindy Killion, the Center embarked on a significant project. In conjunction with the Centers in Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, and Appleton, we signed onto a grant proposal to UW School of Medicine and Public Health for a three year project that could have a significant impact on the health of LGBT people in our area, and will result in additional networking with other social service organizations in our region.
The granting agency said that our proposal was "innovative" and that the proposal, Reducing Tobacco Use Among LGBT Populations in Wisconsin, "holds great potential to improve the health of the people of Wisconsin in a significant way." The following is from the project summary, written by Gary Hollander of Diverse and Resilient, which is a part of the Milwaukee Center. It says:
"Project Need: Research has found that smoking rates for LGBT are increasing. The tobacco industry is targeting LGBT youth as an emerging audience. 2005 data shows that tobacco rates for general population in WI are 22%. Data collected by D&R over the last 3 years indicates rates in LGBT community as high as 44.6% with more than 5,000 years of potential life lost to smoking and an economic cost to Wisconsin of more than $205 million dollars. Cultural norms and socialization patterns in the LGBT community place them at risk for tobacco usage and subsequent health problems. A primary social outlet for the LGBT population is gathering at bars where smoking is pervasive. Culturally specific interventions are needed for the LGBT population to reduce tobacco use. However, there is only one evidence-based model for tobacco specific to gay men. Other projects for LGBT people have conducted social marketing, but there is not sufficient research to determine their effectiveness. The project will adapt tobacco harm reduction strategies with expertise from academic partners."
Watch this newsletter for periodic updates on our progress with the activities of this grant. Here's some of what you can expect to see:
- Non-smoking fun events sponsored by the Center.
- Activities directed to educating people about healthy life styles.
- Activities with our health care partners and educational institutions in the region to provide smoking cessation information and sessions directed to the LGBT population.
- Incentives for those who chose to quit smoking.
This three year grant is not only important to the health of LGBT people in the region, but also to the health of the Center. It will contribute to our special fund to hire an Executive Director for the Center. That, along with your generous contributions, will take the 7 Rivers LGBT Resource Center to the next step and help it become an even more vital presence in our community.