CRUSH Urges Vegas Gay Men to Quit Smoking

CRUSH, Las Vegas' premiere lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender smoke-free brand recently launched a new video to encourage gay and bisexual men to quit smoking. The video is currently promoting a new campaign that asks the gay community in the Las Vegas area to quit smoking for a week with CRUSH.

"Research indicates that gay, bisexual and transgender men are at least two times more likely to smoke than heterosexual men," said Malcolm Ahlo, CRUSH Program Director. "This video is meant to resonate with the gay community and drive home the message that smoking can be far more harmful to your health than other more prominent diseases in the gay community."

The inspirational video, which got more than 3,500 views in the three days since being posted, describes the challenges one man faced growing up gay and how he didn't overcome all of these just to die from a smoking related disease.

"We know most smokers want to quit, but we also know that it can be difficult and many people struggle to find the motivation to take the first step," said Ahlo. "We're hoping people across the country will share this video to draw attention to this issue affecting the LGBT community and give those thinking about quitting the nudge they need to take the first step."

For over eight years, CRUSH has been encouraging the LGBT community of Las Vegas, NV to live a smoke-free and fun lifestyle by hosting smoke-free events, motivating and helping LGBT smokers to quit, and by influencing LGBT decision makers to create more smoke-free social environments.

CRUSH is bringing attention to the fact that young adults in the LGBT community are at least two times more likely to smoke than their straight counterparts. By spreading the CRUSH message and creating awareness of its campaigns, CRUSH helps provide the necessary support to those looking for a healthier, smoke-free future.

Quick Facts:

� Gay, bisexual and transgender men are 2.0 to 2.5 times more likely to
smoke than heterosexual men.

� Tobacco use kills at least 30,000 gay and lesbian people each year in the United States.

� Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking causes more deaths each year than HIV, alcohol, illegal drugs, car accidents and firearms combined.

� On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers.