The Food and Drug Administration still bans blood donation from sexually active gay, transgender and bisexual people. This blanket ban places most LGBT people in the highest-risk category -- regardless of whether they are HIV-negative, what safer-sex precautions they take, or how healthy they are. This antiquated policy is a product of fear-based legislating, serves no purpose to protect the public, and must change. The American Medical Association even opposes these discriminatory and outdated restrictions, and it is long past time for the FDA to update its position as well. Other developed countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan have successfully lifted their ban on donations from the LGBT population -- if they can do it safely, so can we.
With blood shortages and lack of donors based on somone's sexuality is absurd. We are progressivly behind most countries due to legislative hurrdles and issues within our departments. We have come a long way in cases of testing and safe sex that would effect someone postion in donating blood. In cases of HIV and STDS or other blood based diseases. Please join us in lifting the ban on LGBT people and their effort to be able to help supply blood to those in need.
