Smoking can feel adventurous and it can make it feel easier to fit in.
Usually people keep smoking because they're addicted. For GLBT youth, fitting in can be a precious thing. Lots of GLBT youth feel isolated and lonely, at least until they find a group of GLBT-supportive peers. When they do, if smoking is the ticket to belonging, it may feel like a small price to pay. If you don't think you will live long enough to get lung cancer or heart disease, smoking may not seem like a big deal.