Stoptober - Queer as Smoke

October is Stoptober — the national campaign that encourages people across the UK to quit smoking for 28 days. Research shows that if you can stop for that time, you’re five times more likely to quit for good. At The Brunswick Centre, our Queer as Smoke project is using Stoptober to shine a light on smoking within the LGBTQ+ community and to highlight the support available locally through our partners at Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale and the Kirklees Wellness Service.

Quitting smoking is never easy, but for LGBTQ+ people there are often extra challenges. Many face stress linked to stigma and discrimination, which can make smoking a way of coping. Tobacco marketing has also historically targeted our communities, leaving a legacy that still has an impact today. The result is clear in the data. A 2020 study, Health in Equality: Smoking in the LGBTQ Community, found that more than 23% of lesbian, gay and bisexual people smoke compared to 15.9% of heterosexual people. The study also showed that LGBTQ+ smoking rates are where the general population was 15 years ago, underlining how much catching up there is to do. Perhaps most importantly, almost nine in ten LGBTQ+ smokers said they wanted to quit — showing the desire is there but the right support is vital.

That’s where Queer as Smoke comes in. The project is all about making stop-smoking services more inclusive and accessible. Through our local partners, people can get free and confidential support, one-to-one advice, and guidance on alternatives like vaping or nicotine replacement. We know that every person’s relationship with smoking is different, so we take the time to understand triggers, whether they’re linked to stress, social life, or habit.

Queer as Smoke is also part of Well Proud, our wider LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing campaign in Calderdale and Kirklees. Well Proud looks at smoking in the bigger picture of mental health, alcohol, drugs, sexual health, and general wellbeing. We want people to see that stopping smoking isn’t just about physical health — it’s about self-care, pride, and living well in every sense.

The benefits of quitting are well known, but they’re worth repeating. Within just 20 minutes of your last cigarette, your pulse and blood pressure begin to fall. Within 48 hours, your sense of taste and smell start to improve. After a few weeks, circulation and breathing become easier. Over the years that follow, the risks of heart disease, cancer, and other smoking-related illnesses reduce dramatically. Every day you don’t smoke makes a difference.

Stoptober is the perfect time to take the first step. You might decide to set a quit date, plan how you’ll deal with cravings, or reach out for support from Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale or the Kirklees Wellness Service. And if you slip up, it doesn’t mean failure — most people take several attempts before they quit for good. What matters is keeping going and using the support available.

For LGBTQ+ people, stopping smoking can be more than a health decision. It can be a statement of pride, self-respect, and determination. This Stoptober, Queer as Smoke and Well Proud are here to help you on that journey. Together, we can create a future where smoking is no longer part of LGBTQ+ life, and where health inequalities are reduced for good.