People’s Pride 2k19 – Pride of the Ages’ to be Smoke-free

PITTSBURGH, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death and disease among all adults in the United States. The CDC reports that 20.6 % of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults and 35.5 % of transgender adults are current smokers, compared to 14.9 % of heterosexual adults. This difference is substantial and highlights the LGBT community as one of the most in-need groups when it comes to reducing the impact of tobacco. As such, Tobacco Free Allegheny is proud to announce a new partnership with SisTers Pittsburgh to address tobacco use in the LGBT community.

‘People’s Pride 2k19 – Pride of the Ages’ is a two-day, multi-venue festival celebrating the multifaceted power and strength of Pittsburgh’s local LGBTQIA+ communities of color. For the first time in its history, this year’s People’s Pride will be a smoke-free event. This event represents the first, and only, smoke-free Pride celebration in Pittsburgh.

“The decision by SisTers Pgh to host a smoke-free pride event highlights their commitment to the health and well-being of the community, specifically trans women of color. We are honored to support them with this initiative,” said Tiffany Babinsack, Program Coordinator with Tobacco Free Allegheny.

“When I started People’s Pride in 2017, I knew space was needed for those who did not feel welcomed within traditional Pittsburgh Pride activities including those most affected by social, economic, and environmental disparities.” Adds Ciora Thomas, Executive Director of SisTers PGH and Lead organizer of Peoples Pride 2k19 – Pride Of The Ages.

The festivities kick off Saturday, June 8 through Sunday, June 9, 2019, and feature healing workshops, performances, talks, a cookout, and surprise special guest.

All events are FREE and open to the public unless otherwise listed, and all funds raised will be used towards the sustainability of future community projects and/or programming by Sisters Pgh and True T Pittsburgh.

More information is available at www.sisterspgh.org.

Free help is available for those seeking to quit tobacco by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting www.tobaccofreeallegheny.org.

About Tobacco Free Allegheny:
Tobacco Free Allegheny’s mission is to change the community norms surrounding tobacco, making it uncommon to see, use, or be negatively affected by tobacco or tobacco smoke pollution (secondhand and thirdhand smoke).

As part of Pennsylvania’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, our work is based on the Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goals identified are designed to guide programs in their effort to significantly decrease tobacco related morbidity, mortality and economic costs.

About SisTers Pgh:
Founded in 2013, SisTers PGH seeks to serve trans and gender nonconforming people in the greater Pittsburgh region; especially, focusing on trans women of color. Founded by Ciora Thomas, a trans woman of color from Pittsburgh, SisTers has been advocating for trans rights within housing, employment, and the larger TLGBQ+ community.

Through direct community conversations across the city, as well as her role on the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Council, Ms. Thomas provides a strong voice advocating for the rights of trans people in the city of Pittsburgh. A primary function of SisTers PGH is to amplify the voices of trans people within conversations around housing access, employment opportunities, and education.

About Tru T Pittsburgh:
True T PGH (formerly True T Entertainment) serves as a community platform for LGBTQ resource sharing, queer arts, activism, and entertainment. Through community outreach and safe space making, they provide connection to meaningful resources while celebrating the positive happenings within the LGBT+ communities of color.

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