Campaign will urge Philadelphia lesbians to stop smoking (15469)

The Mautner Project, a national lesbian health organization, is working with two Philadelphia gay health groups to urge lesbian and bisexual women in the city to stop smoking. The campaign, called "Delicious Lesbian Kisses," which includes a kissing booth where volunteers will provide smoking-cessation information, will kick off at Philadelphia's monthly "girL Party" on March 19. One ad for the campaign includes images of women's lips, with the tagline "Want to kiss me all night? All over? Put that cigarette away. Let's put your lips to better use." Mautner is partnering with Philadelphia's Mazzoni Center and SafeGuards for the campaign.

"With prejudice and discrimination against lesbians rampant in society and with the discomfort they often experience when seeking health care, lesbians have little incentive to quit smoking," said Kathleen DeBold, executive director of the Washington-based Mautner Project. "Our 'Delicious Lesbian Kisses' campaign offers support and smoking cessation information using positive, sexy images designed by and for women who partner with women."

The campaign is partially funded by the American Legacy Foundation, a national smoking-cessation group best known for its series of "Truth" ads about smoking. Philadelphia is the second of five cities to participate in the pilot program. Other cities include Washington, D.C., Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Madison, Wis. The campaign also includes a Web site, www.deliciouskiss.com, to provide women with tips to stop smoking.

The "girL Party" will be held March 19 at Sal's, 200 S. 12th St. in Philadelphia. For more information about the event go online to www.phillygirlparty.com.