The group sits around the table and chats. They become more familiar with each other, recognizing one another and saying “hello” as we return to the Gay City Health Project each week.

But Lark, Dan and I are busy preparing for the session. We’ve spent a week organizing today’s event, collecting scissors and magazines and statistics. Today’s topic of discussion will be one of resentment, of determination, of action. We’re going to ask the guys, “Why do you want to quit?”

What better way to do this than through arts and crafts?

We began our evening on Tuesday 1/19 exposing the truth. I provided statistics to the Out To Quit group. For instance, according to the National LGBT Tobacco Control Network, over 30,000 LGBT people die each year of tobacco-related diseases.

But on the bright side, according to the Snohomish County Tobacco Resource Line, coughing, sinus problems, and shortness of breath noticeably decrease after two months of quitting smoking. Even just 24 hours after your last cigarette, your risk of heart attack drops significantly.

Lee, one of the folks in the group, tells us about being quit for a week. Lee hasn’t had a cigarette since our last meeting! (The secret? Black pepper oil. The aroma has staved off Lee’s cravings surprisingly well). Lee joins Tony as the two members of the group who have successfully quit tobacco.

But there are still more to join them!

All the group members make collages about what they hate about tobacco; what they will love about being smoke-free. Scissors flash, multicolored paper is folded and cut and shredded, glue sticks become the evening’s most sought-after commodity, and laughs peal out while the quitters go to work.

Calm and caring Michael explains his collage to the group. “My kids bug me about it constantly,” he says. “And what kind of message am I sending to them? That they don’t matter?” His health is important to him as a father.

Tony, bright and extroverted, shares with us how happy he is that he’s been quit for two months. “I’m a long-term survivor of HIV, so I really want to quit to add years to my life.” He explains that, if he had remained a smoker, he would have to pay “astronomical amounts” more than an HIV-positive non-smoker would to the Department of Health for medical coverage. He adds proudly, “And no more of my gay dollars to the tobacco company!” (There is more information in Part 1 of this blog series on how the tobacco industry targets the gay community).

Irfan is new to the group. He doesn’t share his collage out loud but we welcome him warmly. James tells a story through his artwork about how he wants to “feel like a kid again,” reclaiming the innocence he had before he started smoking.

Gregory is recovering from a nasty cold, but he still has sarcastic wit despite his sore throat. He describes how he feels so “glamorous” with cigarettes and a martini one evening but will spend the next morning hacking and coughing.

Images of ice, brick, glass, and steel are arranged dramatically on Matt’s collage. He explains articulately that he feels “frozen” in his addiction, but if he can make it over the hump, he’ll have more time and energy to devote to his other passions in life.

It’s time. Lark asks the group, “So when do you want to quit?”

Some of the members are ready. They want to make a decision tonight. Some of them are nervous, understandably. It’s a big lifestyle change. The group decides that they will agree upon a quit date in our next session together.

Next week, we’ll schedule the Big Day and spend the entire session planning for it, finding substitutions and alternatives to smoking. Check in for Part 4 to see the results and to get tips on preparing for a quit date!