*Ronald ��Ron�� Baxter Harrist deceased on June 19, 2010.
Decades of research demonstrate staggering human and monetary costs caused by cigarette smoking, which is currently hailed as the most preventable source of morbidity and mortality (Dube, Asman, Malarcher, & Carabollo, 2009). Literature also clearly documents disparities in smoking among lesbian, gay, and bisexual selleck chem Paclitaxel populations (i.e., sexual minorities) in the United States, suggesting 50%�C70% higher prevalence than the general population (Austin et al., 2004; Garofalo, Wolf, Kessel, Palfrey, & DuRant, 1998; Gruskin, Greenwood, Matevia, Pollack, & Bye, 2007; Lee, Griffin, & Melvin, 2009; McCabe, Boyd, Hughes, & d��Arcy, 2003; Skinner, 1994; Stall, Greenwood, Acree, Paul, & Coates, 1999; Tang et al., 2004).

Moreover, the American Lung Association (2010) published a special report of tobacco disparities among sexual minorities, harkening a call for more research. Despite overall concordance of higher smoking prevalence, knowledge remains relatively underdeveloped about factors driving this disparity. A few risk factors have been empirically tested and significantly associated with smoking outcomes, such as internalized homophobia (Amadio & Chung, 2004), alcohol abuse and depression (McKirnan, Tolou-Shams, Turner, Dyslin, & Hope, 2006), issues involving disclosure of sexual minority status (Rosario, Schrimshaw, & Hunter, 2009), and early sexual experience (Lombardi, Silvestre, Janosky, Fisher, & Rinaldo, 2008).

Socially based stressors, such as discrimination and violence victimization, are also identified risk factors salient to negative health outcomes among sexual minority men and women (Herek, Gillis, & Cogan, 1999; Mays & Cochran, 2001; Meyer, 1995). The diversity among sexual minority people notwithstanding, they report notably similar experiences related to discrimination, stigma, rejection, and violence (Herek, 2009). Research consistently demonstrates that fear of victimization, including discrimination and violence, affects overall health and well-being across many Cilengitide types of minority populations (Mays, Cochran, & Barnes, 2007; Meyer, 2003b; Williams, Neighbors, & Jackson, 2003). In fact, certain types of victimization, such as intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and traumatic events, can be independent risk factors for continued smoking (Amstadter et al., 2009; Roberts, Fuemmeler, McClernon, & Beckham, 2008; Stueve & O��Donnell, 2007). Prior work with adolescent and young adult racial minorities demonstrates associations between racial- and ethnic-based discrimination and smoking (Guthrie, Young, Williams, Boyd, & Kintner, 2002; Landrine & Klonoff, 2000; Wiehe, Aalsma, Liu, & Fortenberry, 2010).