Stanford University has published a study that found that indoor tanning salons may be specifically targeting gay people. The study goes as far as stating that gay men exhibit higher rates of skin cancer. The study looked at 10 major U.S. cities–Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Dallas, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., Portland, and Denver.
Researchers found that indoor tanning salons were twice as likely to be found within one mile of a gayborhood; a neighborhood where 10% or more of households consist of same-sex male couples.
Each year, indoor tanning is thought to cause over 460,000 cases of skin cancers in the general population. Compared with heterosexual men, gay and bisexual men are believed to be twice as likely to have skin cancer, and six times more likely to use a tanning bed over the course of their lives. – Newsweek
Researchers carefully note that its not clear if the indoor tanning industry is deliberately going after gay men, but, “It’s definitely something I am very worried about.” says Dr. Eleni Linos, professor of dermatology and epidemiology at Stanford University.
