inly 11 ?nn? J— g — [27
Cushing spreads the word during Portland Pride 2002
there is very little data about the smoking rates
of our population or what to do about it. I
became a little obsessed with finding out why.”
Cushing began interviewing leaders of the
sexual minorities community, as well as “anyone
I can grab for a few minutes," about queer smok
ing habits. She soon had a strong consensus:
“Many community leaders are very worried
about the many young LGBTI people they see
smoking. Almost everyone interviewed feels the
LGBTI community has a problem with tobacco
use and that they would be willing to help advo
cate for resources to help us quit and prevent us
from starting to use tobacco.”
Why are smoking rates higher among gay
and lesbian people than in the general popula
tion? “One reason we smoke more,” Cushing
says, “ is because the bar culture, with its empha
sis on drinking and smoking, is where many
young LGBTI folks go to feel comfortable when
they are coming out.”
A second reason stems from homophobia.
“Because we are an oppressed group with all the
accompanying stress,” Cushing says, “we are
looking for stress releases, and the popular view
of smoking is that it relaxes people.”
Thirdly, the sexual minorities community
has been heavily targeted by the tobacco indus
try’s ad campaigns. “Smoking has been made to
look...both tough and sexy— something rebels
do— and what young LGBTI person has not
wanted to identify as a tough and/or sexy rebel
during those confusing adolescent years?”
Cushing would like to counter these forces
by starting a campaign of her own. Her project
ideally would be modeled after the successful
Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Pro
gram— only hers would be specifically targeted
to
sexual
minorities.
5 The compre-
| h e n s i v e
3 s t at ewi de
g
| program,
which
is
being
eye-
balled as a
national
It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it
Drivers wanted.
model, fights
tobacco use
by prevent
ing kids from
smoking,
helping peo
ple quit and
protecting
people from secondhand smoke. It includes local
likely to take care of ourselves and, when we are
coalitions, school-based programs, the Oregon
sick, less likely to seek medical attention. Again,
Quit Line, and public awareness and education.
those of us with the ability, knowledge and free
The sexual minorities community “gets little
dom to help folks stay healthier longer really
dribs and drabs of attention— a sponsorship
ought to step up to the plate. Plus, 1 love the
here, some materials there— but nothing on a
color and vibrancy of our community. We have
consistent, ongoing basis,” Cushing says. “That
already lost too many. I am absolutely commit
needs to change.” She would like to “insist that
ted to keeping as many of us as possible around
Oregon’s tobacco prevention program begin
as long as possible!”
treating our population like any other diverse
Ultimately, Cushing’s motivation for activism
group— a diverse group with a high smoking
is borne of gratitude— gratitude for her ability to
rate!"
give back to the communities that support her. “I
Cushing emphasizes that the first step in bat feel that although I am a member of our LGBT1
tling tobacco is gathering information about the
community,” she says, “I am also a part of the larg
smoking habits of queer people. This opportuni er community of people here in the metro area,
ty will begin this month, when a pilot question
and I do want to give back a little.”
about sexual orientation will be included on the
She has made community involvement a pri
Oregon Department of Human Services survey.
ority in her life because she simply enjoys it: “I
“This will have great implications for lots of pro can’t imagine giving my life energy away to
grams that need information about our popula make money for someone else, since 1 don’t
tion but will really help us in tobacco control,”
absolutely have to— I would rather spend that
Cushing says.
energy making things better for people, includ
But her passion for activism doesn’t stop
ing myself! The other reason is that I can, so I
there. She also helps organize the Race for the
think I should. Those of us with as many privi
Cure, sponsored by the Portland and southwest
leges as 1 have had in my life really ought to give
Washington affiliate of the Susan G. Komen
others a leg up.” J H
Breast Cancer Foundation.
While 25 percent of the proceeds fund C aitlin SMITH is a free-la n ce w riter and scientist
national research, the rest is dedicated to fight in Portland.
ing breast cancer locally, funding free mammo
grams and educational programs. As Cushing
says, “This is a wonderful opportunity to give
time, energy and/or money in a way that helps
people right here in Oregon and southwest
Washington.”
Cushing, who serves as race committee
chairwoman, hopes for a record turnout
Sept. 15, calling it “one of the most moving,
powerful events we can participate in every year.
More than 42,000 people registered to walk or
run last year— and you can’t imagine the beauty
and power of that many men, women and chil
dren all united behind those who have suffered
and survived breast cancer and those who have
lost loved ones to the disease.”
Perhaps Cushing’s deep appreciation for
activism emerged from the contrast between the
sexual minorities community and her upbring
ing in Tulsa, Okla. “My mother was a liberal,
feminist Democrat psychologist in the midst of a
bunch of Republican engineers working for the
oil company. It was not a good fit!”
She was not aware she was a lesbian until she
was about 35 and hadn’t “heard the words gay or
lesbian until college.... I somehow always
leaned to the left— and left Tulsa as soon as I
could.”
Cushing’s love of the sexual minorities com
munity also underlies her passion for supporting
queer health: “I believe we are an underserved,
The busy activist attends a Race for the Cure
underrecognized group of people. We are less
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