CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The state Division of Tobacco Prevention has distributed $100,000 in grants for programs designed to curb smoking in the gay community.

Covenant House and Bluefield State College each received a $50,000 grant this week to help gay people stop smoking and using chewing tobacco in central and Southern West Virginia.

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Charleston artist Amy Williams created this felt piece for an exhibit designed to raise awareness in the gay community about the dangers of smoking.

"HIV isn't our biggest health threat; it's tobacco," said Jeff Crist, development director at Covenant House, a Charleston nonprofit.

West Virginia has the nation's second-highest smoking rate. Only Kentucky has a higher percentage of smokers. 

West Virginia's tobacco prevention office has previously targeted pregnant women and teens.

Covenant House and Bluefield State were the only applicants for the grants, said Bruce Adkins, director of the tobacco prevention division.

"The LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] folks have a significantly higher tobacco use experience," Adkins said. "[Covenant House and Bluefield State] are using best practices for their prevention programs."

Covenant House, which also serves clients with HIV/AIDS, plans to start a yearlong anti-smoking campaign.

The program will include anti-smoking advertising, tobacco cessation support groups and special events, such as a juried art exhibit on Oct. 16.

The exhibit - part of Charleston's monthly Art Walk - will feature anti-smoking-themed art by gay artists. The artists received $50 stipends to purchase art supplies.

"Some of the pieces are serious commentaries, others are more whimsical in nature," said Amy Weintraub, Covenant House director.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The state Division of Tobacco Prevention has distributed $100,000 in grants for programs designed to curb smoking in the gay community.

Covenant House and Bluefield State College each received a $50,000 grant this week to help gay people stop smoking and using chewing tobacco in central and Southern West Virginia.

Recent studies have shown that gays are about twice as likely to smoke than non-gays. About half of all gay men smoke, according to the National Coalition for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Health. Lung cancer kills more lesbians than any other cancer.

"HIV isn't our biggest health threat; it's tobacco," said Jeff Crist, development director at Covenant House, a Charleston nonprofit.

West Virginia has the nation's second-highest smoking rate. Only Kentucky has a higher percentage of smokers. 

West Virginia's tobacco prevention office has previously targeted pregnant women and teens.

Covenant House and Bluefield State were the only applicants for the grants, said Bruce Adkins, director of the tobacco prevention division.

"The LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] folks have a significantly higher tobacco use experience," Adkins said. "[Covenant House and Bluefield State] are using best practices for their prevention programs."

Covenant House, which also serves clients with HIV/AIDS, plans to start a yearlong anti-smoking campaign.

The program will include anti-smoking advertising, tobacco cessation support groups and special events, such as a juried art exhibit on Oct. 16.

The exhibit - part of Charleston's monthly Art Walk - will feature anti-smoking-themed art by gay artists. The artists received $50 stipends to purchase art supplies.

"Some of the pieces are serious commentaries, others are more whimsical in nature," said Amy Weintraub, Covenant House director.

Tobacco prevention and gay health groups say gay people smoke at high rates because of stress caused by discrimination. Gays also are more likely to frequent places where smoking is prevalent, such as bars and private clubs.

What's more, gay people have higher rates of alcohol and drug abuse, behaviors often associated with smoking, according to gay health organizations. 

"The tobacco industry has targeted the gay population for years," Crist said.

Tobacco kills more people each year than AIDS, alcohol, illegal drugs, car accidents, murders and suicides combined, he said.

"There are unique challenges that keep [gays] from attempting to quit smoking," Crist said. "We all know smoking is bad for you. We're trying to share information that they haven't heard before."

Adkins said the grant money came from the tobacco prevention office's annual budget, which includes funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

"The state recognized this was an underserved group with high rates of tobacco use," Weintraub said. "It's a program that needs to happen. It's costing us as a society so much to provide health care to folks who smoke."

This is the first year West Virginia's tobacco prevention office has targeted the gay community, Crist said. About two-dozen states sponsor similar outreach programs, according to the National LGBT Tobacco Control Network.

Bluefield State's program also will last a year, Adkins said.

The CDC, American Lung Association, American Cancer Society and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids support including gays and lesbians in anti-smoking initiatives, Crist said.

"The gay community has survived lots over the years," he said. "Discrimination. Ostracism. It's time the whole message gets out about smoking and tobacco."

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 348-4869.