Over the past few months, the DC Center for the LGBT Community has met with LGBT individuals, activists, and organizations to talk about tobacco. Many people understand that smoking is unhealthy, but did you know that HIV+ smokers are at risk for both HIV AND smoking-related illnesses and diseases?

In our discussions, we have encountered many different exciting ideas about how to reduce smoking in the LGBT community. You can't make someone quit, but you can provide more information and help people make better choices. The DC Center and the Tobacco Working Group are asking the DC Council to make information about the effects of smoking for people living with HIV available in all stores that sell tobacco.

According to the Department of Health, DC has at least 16,000 people living with HIV. That's at least 3% of the population living with HIV! The DC Center has created a petition to help explain to the DC Council the effects of tobacco on people living with HIV. Won't you join us?